Julius Randle had his best game since returning from his leg injury, scoring 17 points (on 6-11 shooting) with 4 rebounds in 21 minutes in the Lakers’ 88-86 Summer League loss to the Mavs on Wednesday.

Randle has been trying to shake off the rust while on a tight 20-minute restriction, and yesterday’s performance seems like the confidence-booster the former lottery pick needed.

Julius Randle wasn’t even 2 years old yet when the Lakers made a Draft-day trade for a high schooler named Kobe Bryant. He was 5 when Kobe and Shaquille O’Neal won their first title in Los Angeles. And in the next 14 years, as he grew from little kid to Lottery lock, much in the NBA changed. Kobe though, he didn’t.

Randle watched older generations retire and newer ones supplant them. He was 8 when LeBron James went first overall to the Cavs, 12 when the Seattle SuperSonics got Kevin Durant. This was how things went. Kerry Kittles retired, Stephon Marbury went to China, Allen Iverson finally retired.

But Kobe just kept going, eventually joined by fellow Class of ’96 member Steve Nash. Dwight Howard got pushed out of town. It didn’t seem like the old timers wanted to make room for the next generation. But there was Randle on the board at No. 7, and the Lakers were on the clock, and that was that. So in his first pre-season game, Julius had a decision to make. Would he step aside as so many Lakers had done before, or would he step up? It was really no choice at all.

The exception, representing half of Randle’s 3 million salary, can be used to sign a free agent or claim a player off waivers.

Per the LA Daily News:

The Lakers could also trade for a player that makes up to $1.6 million. Whichever move the Lakers might make, that player could not stay beyond the 2014-15 season. The Lakers filed for the exception shortly after Randle fractured his right tibia in the Lakers season-opening loss two weeks ago against Houston. Although the Lakers expected Randle would miss the season after having surgery the next day, the NBA needed to look at the paperwork surrounding Randle’s surgery.

The Lakers have also filed a disabled player exception for Steve Nash worth $4.9 million, which represents half of his $9.8 million salary. But the NBA has not approved that exception yet, though Nash is also expected to miss the entire 2014-15 season.

It is unclear if the Lakers will use their current disabled players exceptions. They have a league-maximum 15 players on their roster, including 13 with fully guaranteed contracts. Guards Ronnie Price and Wayne Ellington have partial guarantees, meaning either or both players would have to be waived to make room.

“It was just a regular play. Just drove right. When I went up, it felt like somebody kicked me. I haven’t really looked at it – the detail of what happened or the play. But it felt like somebody kicked me.

“It was just like a ‘pop’ sound, basically. I didn’t even think it was my leg because I didn’t feel it. So I heard a pop sound, but I didn’t feel it. But once I got back down on the ground, I didn’t even try to get up. My leg was just too weak. It wasn’t any pain or anything. I was in discomfort, but I really wasn’t in any pain. There really wasn’t any pain until I got on the x-ray table. It was more shock, just (being) upset, because I knew, as soon as I did it, what it was, and I told Gary Vitti. […] He’s like, ‘What happened?’ I said, ‘I broke my leg.’ I knew exactly what it was. It was more just being upset about what was gonna come, but I’m fine.”

“I do have an attack plan. I do. Like I said, more than anything, I’m just motivated. So I do have an attack plan. […] Right now it’s just to get out of the pain. Once I get out of that, hopefully in about six weeks I’ll be able to walk with just once crutch. We’ll see from there. I don’t want to give you guys too much (of a) timetable. I want to go at my own speed; make sure I’m comfortable (with) what I’m doing. Hopefully, (in) six weeks I can walk a little bit better, start to put more pressure on it.”

Q: On if he will focus on the mental aspect of the game during his rehab year, like Kobe Bryant did when he missed extended time. […] Randle: “Yeah … The night I had broken (my leg), (Bryant) texted me. And we were talking, and he was one of the main people that helped me really get out of my pity party, saying, ‘It’s happened to players before. You’re not the first, and you’re gonna have a great comeback.’ He was like: ‘Your rehabilitation and your mindset starts now.’ And it did. I’ve struggled (some) days, but at the end of the day I’ll be fine.”

With veteran guard Steve Nash already out for the season because of chronic back problems, the Lakers could file another disabled-player exception with the NBA that would give them an additional $1.5 million in spending power. They would receive about $4.9 million to spend on a free agent or a player via trade if they were granted a disabled-player exception for Nash.

If the Lakers experience one more extended injury in addition to Nash, Randle and Nick Young, they could ask the NBA to extend their roster to 16 players via the rarely used “hardship” rule. […] When Young returns from a torn thumb ligament, the Lakers would have to go back to 15 players. He is expected to return near the end of November.

Lakers forward Julius Randle left tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter with an injury to his right leg. The initial diagnosis by team doctors at the arena is a fractured tibia. […] Randle will undergo further evaluation (Wednesday), and an update on his status will be given at that time.

Randle, the seventh overall pick in the draft, is expected to have surgery as early as Wednesday and will probably miss the entire season. He had two points on one-for-three shooting in 13 minutes when he left the game.

“I just told him, ‘Keep your spirits up,'” the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant said, adding that an injury like that would be hard enough to stomach for a veteran, let alone a 19-year-old like Randle. […] “We’ll help him through this,” Bryant said. “He’ll come back a better basketball player. That’s the goal, is to try to find the silver lining.”

Last night was the night—Opening Night. First three games of the 2014-15 NBA season are officially in the bag, and there’s already so much to talk about. Welcome back, everybody. (To the regular NBA season, that is. We know you were here on SLAMonline throughout the off- and preseason—y’all rock).

Spurs 101 – Mavericks 100

Is there a better way to begin the season? A ring ceremony concluding with the revelation of your fifth Championship banner, followed by a win in a down-to-the-wire game against a division rival. Yeah, no. It doesn’t get much better.

Fans witnessed typical Spurs basketball in San Antonio last night—finding the open man to shoot efficiently (53 percent from the field), a solid Timmy Duncan double-double (14 points and 13 boards), an explosive Manu Ginobili off the bench (20 points), and a clutch Tony Parker whose 3-pointer with just over a minute left in the 4Q sealed the Spurs’ win. ‘Twas a nice time for the Spurs and their fans.

The new-look Mavs team wasn’t too shabby either. Nowitzki finished with 18 and Ellis with 26 points, 6 assists and 4 boards. They almost had the game when Dirk sank a three…but Tony answered back with his triple, and Chandler Parsons’ shot attempt to win it in the final seconds fell short.

Pelicans 101 – Magic 84

Hello, Anthony Davis! Stat line easily goes to the 21-year-old star, who had a near triple-double on opening night. With 26 points, 17 rebounds and 9 blocks (not to mention 3 steals), he became one of three players (the other two being Shaq and Tim Duncan) since 1985 to record 20+ points, 15+ boards and 8+ blocks before the ripe age of 22. We’re witnessing history here, people!

Newly acquired Pelican, Omer Asik, finished with his own double-double of 14 points and 17 rebounds. And to think these two guys weren’t even the game leaders in boards—the Magic’s Nikola Vucevic snagged 23 of them rebounds.

Orlando kept the game close with guys like Tobias Harris putting up 25 points, before New Orleans pulled away for good in the fourth.

Rockets 108 – Lakers 90

One man back, another man gone.

In Kobe Bryant’s return to the basketball court last night, the Houston Rockets blew out his Lakers in their own house. What made it worse—L.A.’s lottery pick, Julius Randle, suffered a broken leg and had to be rolled off the court.

The Black Mamba put up 19 points, 3 boards and 2 assists in his first game back, but James Harden and the Rockets stole the show. Harden had the game-high 32 points to go along with 6 assists. Needless to say, there were a number of #BeardAlert tweets sent out last night.

Terrence Jones, Trevor Ariza and Dwight Howard all contributed double digits for the Rockets as well, resulting in a smooth and satisfying road victory.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie big man Julius Randle had his best performance in Purple and Gold thus far Wednesday night, coming off the bench for a team-leading 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and eight rebounds.

Having dazzled Laker fans with his floor game in the team’s 94-86 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, Randle reminded everyone that his childhood dream (despite his size) was to play like a certain superstar teammate.

“People used to tell me I’m going to be the next Shaq,” said Randle, the 6-9, 250 pound forward growing in height and strength at an early age. “I said, ‘I don’t want to be the next Shaq. I want to be the next Kobe.’ I always dribbled the ball everywhere I went.”

But as Randle dazzled the Lakers and their fans as he marched up and down the floor, it only validated Scott’s recent conversation he and Bryant recently had with Randle. […] “I told him, ‘As long as I’m standing on you or [Kobe’s] standing on you, it means that we care about you and love you and want you to do well,” Scott said. “When I stop talking to you, that’s when you should be worried.”

Rookie Julius Randle had a solid preseason debut Monday night — 10 points and eight rebounds in the Lakers’ 98-95 victory over the Denver Nuggets — but Scott thinks Randle still has a ways to go with his conditioning.

Scott wants the first-round draft pick (and the whole team) to be in phenomenal shape for the regular season.

Per the LA Times:

“He’s got to do a better job of setting screens,” said Scott. “He’s got to do a better job of getting up and down the floor. He does that in spurts.

“The biggest thing with him right now is that he has to get in better shape. He’s in good shape but he has to get in great shape.”

Scott has held a vigorous training camp, pushing his players to try to make the Lakers one of the best-conditioned teams in league. […] “When you’re not in great shape and you get tired, you lose focus, it’s that simple,” said Scott. “It’s just a matter of getting him in great shape.”

A compilation of the NBA’s best images from the past seven days. From the newest rookie faces to the respected Hall of Fame inductees—with a little Kobe, Varejao and Hardaway Jr in between—scroll through this week’s NBA photos above.

There was concern in Lakerland about the health of Julius Randle’s right foot when the team selected him as the seventh overall pick in the NBA Draft. According to the Lakers, the rookie big man is good to go. From the team website:

The Lakers sent freshly minted draft pick Julius Randle to Indiana for a Wednesday appointment with renowned foot specialist Dr. David Porter, who determined that Randle does not need surgery on his foot.

Randle has been cleared for all basketball activity, and is expected to play for L.A.’s Summer League team in Las Vegas.

There had been loud rumors about Julius Randle potentially needing pre-season surgery to clean up his right foot leading into the Draft. The Lakers selected him 7th overall anyway, and don’t seem to agree with the old diagnosis.

“We don’t expect that there’d be any kind of preemptive surgery.” — Kupchak on Randle

The day of the NBA Draft is almost here and it’s the realization of a lifelong dream for the selected. What every player wants is a chance to show what they can do, location of that opportunity lies secondary. It won’t be the best 60 players selected in this Draft as the NBA continues to rate players with potential above players who can play and, most importantly, know how to play.

Look for teams to use this opportunity to trade existing assets to get younger (and cap lighter) as well as to trade down.

Here are the top players in the Draft (it doesn’t mean they will be taken at these picks) in what is one of the deepest draft boards in years.

What Wojnarowski says will happen usually happens in the NBA, so this story is far from over. Additionally, ESPN.com confirmed Woj’s report later in the day.

According to several team executives, the 6-foot-9 Kentucky forward’s broken right foot hasn’t healed correctly — and sources confirmed a Yahoo! Sports report that Randle may need surgery after the June 26 NBA draft that will keep him out of summer league.

Julius Randle currently seems like a lock to be drafted in the top-10, and it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see him slip into the top-5 of this month’s Draft. Hopefully that won’t change with the news that he’ll likely need surgery on his previously bothersome right foot. From Adrian Wojnarowski:

The procedure is expected to keep Randle out six to eight weeks this summer, sources said, but there’s a strong expectation within front offices that he’ll be cleared for the start of training camp in the fall. In this scenario, Randle would miss rookie summer league in July.

Randle, who is 6-foot-9, is still planning workouts with teams, including Boston on Friday, league sources said.

As a high school senior in Texas two years ago, Randle missed three months with a fractured right foot. There was a screw placed into his foot that needs to be removed as a precautionary procedure, sources said. Randle hasn’t experienced pain in the foot, nor did he miss any games because of it in an All-America freshman season at Kentucky.

His draft stock isn’t expected to be impacted because of the surgery, league executives said. Several executives said they considered this a minor issue.

In the least surprising news of the day, Kentucky’s star freshman Julius Randle has declared for the NBA Draft.

The forward announced today that he will forgo his final three years of eligibility and declare for this year’s NBA Draft. He joins several other star freshman to make this announcement, including Kansas’s Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins and Duke’s Jabari Parker.

Randle helped carry Kentucky to the National Championship game as an 8 seed during the NCAA Tournament, where the Wildcats fell to UConn.

In his statement, Randle thanked UK fans and said he had the best coaching staff in the country that prepared him for this next step.

With five days left before the deadline for underclassmen to declare, the 6-foot-9 Dallas native announced the decision many expected even before he arrived as part of Kentucky’s best recruiting class ever. Projected as a lottery pick from the outset, Randle solidified his draft stock by leading Kentucky (29-11) to the NCAA final behind a string of double-doubles despite being double- and triple-teamed.

Randle averaged 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds for the Wildcats this year, and is the No. 5 prospect in the draft, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford.

On Saturday in Arlington, TX, inside a massive 80,000-seat stadium normally occupied by the Dallas Cowboys, four excellent basketball teams will compete in the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

They are nominally the best teams in the country right now. UConn, Florida, Kentucky and Wisconsin are the last men standing; they have survived a brutal single-elimination tournament and all the madness of March. They have played their best basketball when it matters most.

And now these four teams will compete for a shot at a national title, the biggest game on the NCAA’s grandest stage: Monday Night.

First we have No. 1 Florida versus No. 7 UConn—the muscular interior play and sturdy defense of the Gators against the quicksilver guards of the Huskies’ backcourt, the nation’s best. Then the nightcap: No. 2 Wisconsin versus No. 8 Kentucky, a matchup of two very different coaching styles—Kentucky and its NBA-ready freshmen, all the talent in the world, will look to slow down Wisconsin’s finely-tuned offensive machine.

We can expect the usual circus in North Texas.

There will be pageantry, net-cutting and a finely-rehearsed production. The media hordes will cover Arlington like a plague. There will be endless commercials during timeout breaks. In all likelihood there will be poor shooting –especially in the first halves—because it’s damn hard to shoot baskets in a drafty football arena when you’re accustomed to a gym.

That’s all fine, though. It’s just part of the experience, the exclamation point at the end of a marathon season. Might as well go out with a bang.

Yet beyond all the money and marketing, the Final Four is ultimately, and rightly, about the players involved. The coaches are great, to be sure, the public faces of the sport—but fans always remember the players.

Names are made here. Legacies are secured.

Who will be the man this year? Who’s going to score 30, or hit that legendary game-winning jumper? I have no idea, but I can’t wait to find out.

No. 1 Florida (36-2) vs No. 7 UConn (30-8)

AT&T Stadium, Saturday, 6:09 p.m. EST

How They Got Here

Top-seeded Florida was an odds-on favorite to reach the Final Four, and the Gators didn’t disappoint. They struggled to find their best form against Albany in the second round but still won easily, 67-55. They cruised by Pitt, a familiar rival, then bounced a very good UCLA team 79-68 in the Sweet 16, setting up a date with tournament darling Dayton. The 11-seeded Flyers had already knocked off Ohio State and Syracuse, so they didn’t fear Florida. But the Gators came to play. Center Patric Young controlled the block, point guard Scottie Wilbekin scored 23 points and the Gators knocked out the Flyers 62-52.

UConn’s run was much less predictable. The Huskies squeaked by St. Joseph’s in overtime, bested 2-seed Villanova 77-65, and defeated a very talented Iowa State squad in the Sweet 16. Last weekend UConn faced 4-seed Michigan State, a team many experts picked to win the whole thing. The Huskies had other ideas—slippery point guard Shabazz Napier cranked out 25 points, forward DeAndre Daniels went for 12 and 8, and Connecticut punched its ticket to the Final Four. The Huskies were 21-22 from the free throw stripe in that game, by the way.

Go-To Guys*

Florida

Patric Young – The 6-9, 240-pound senior is built like a piece of steel, with long arms and skills to boot. His size, experience and rebounding ability give Florida a big edge in the low post. Averaging 10.8 points and 6.2 boards per contest this season, Young has stepped up his game in the NCAA Tournament. Young’s looming presence on the low block last weekend helped Florida get past Dayton and into the Final Four.

Casey Prather – Another big-time forward in the Gators’ frontcourt, Prather is the team’s leading scorer at 13.8 ppg. Efficiency and high-percentage shots are Prather’s trademark—he’s shooting around 60 percent from the field this year.

Scottie Wilbekin – As Wilbekin goes, so go the Gators. The 6-2 senior runs the show on offense, averaging more than 13 points and 3.7 assists per game this season. He was brilliant against Dayton, running the floor, dissecting the Flyers’ defense. With sneaky handles and vision for miles, he’s the man to watch when the Gators have the ball.

UConn

Shabazz Napier – UConn’s senior point guard might be small in stature—6-1 (generously), 180 pounds—but nobody has a bigger heart. The Roxbury, MA, native has that tough city-style game—the silky dribbling skills, the lightning-quick drives to the rim, the range from deep. He can break down a defender one-on-one or hit the step-back jumper. With four years of college ball on his resume, he’s learned to draw fouls like nobody else in the tournament. And, probably most importantly, he can make all the right reads off the high ball screens that UConn runs so well, often finding his teammates with beautiful cross-court skip passes.

‘Bazz averages about 18 points per game, and he’s exploded over the past two weeks—24 against St. Joe’s, 25 against Villanova, 25 versus Michigan State on Sunday. Napier’s play has drawn comparisons to Kemba Walker’s incendiary performance in the 2011 tournament. He’s the leader of these Huskies, without a doubt. But can he follow in Kemba’s footsteps and bring a title back to Storrs? (For more on ‘Bazz, check out this great piece from SLAM’s Peter Walsh.)

DeAndre Daniels – A crucial piece of the Huskies’ lineup, Daniels provides some size and skill in the UConn frontcourt. He will have to keep pace with Florida’s talented bigs if UConn hopes to win Saturday. Daniels should be up to the task—the 6-9 junior has been terrific in this tournament. His best game was March 28 versus Iowa State, when he posted a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double.

What To Watch For

Florida is long, strong, fast and deep. They have a coach in Billy Donovan who knows how to win National Championships. It’s very hard to score on the Gators, and they have plenty of big bodies that can crash the boards.

But UConn is playing with an edge. Napier is all but unstoppable right now, the Huskies don’t miss free throws, and coach Kevin Ollie has this team swarming the ball on the defensive end of the floor. The backcourt matchups should be fascinating, especially the Wilbekin-Napier contest, a battle between two of the most competitive kids in the country.

This should be an excellent game between two experienced, well-coached clubs. My gut says Florida wins this thing; I think it’s the better team from top to bottom. If Shabazz gets going, though, and if UConn gets some additional scoring from Daniels, guard Ryan Boatright or 6-7 swingman Niels Giffey, the Huskies could very well pull off the “upset.”

One more juicy note: With an overall record of 36-2, Florida hasn’t dropped a game since Dec. 2—a 65-64 loss to UConn.

Bold Prediction: Florida 56, UConn 50

***

No. 2 Wisconsin (30-7) vs No. 8 Kentucky (28-10)

AT&T Stadium, Saturday, 8:49 p.m. EST

How They Got Here

Wisconsin’s road to the Final Four was a bumpy one. It struggled against a sharpshooting Oregon team in the third round (but rallied); stomped Baylor in one of the more impressive offensive showings of the entire Tournament; and beat Arizona 64-63 in the Elite Eight, in somewhat controversial fashion. Big Frank Kaminsky was brilliant against the Wildcats, scoring 28 points and tracking down 11 rebounds.

Kentucky, somehow, transformed itself over the last month or so. It became the team we all thought it would be at the beginning of the season, when the Wildcats were ranked No. 1 in the polls. Come NCAA Tournament time, Kentucky was ready to dispatch Kansas State, undefeated Wichita State and Louisville, the defending national champs. In the Elite Eight, young Aaron Harrison knocked down a three-pointer with just a few seconds left in the game to beat Michigan 75-72.

Go-To Guys*

Kentucky

Julius Randle – This young man is a future NBA lottery pick, and for good reason. The 6-9, 250-pound freshman is arguably the finest forward in the country, averaging 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game this season. He’s a one-and-done, an elite physical specimen, but it’s his skill set that sets Randle above the rest. Ball-handling, shooting, interior footwork, passing—he can do it all, with the strength and physicality of a pro.

It’s fun to watch him work on the block. He beats defenders with quick spins, short jumpers or simple hard work. And boy, does he crash the glass for those all-important rebounds.

If Randle’s game is on, good luck beating Kentucky.

Alex Poythress – On this team, sophomores are the old men on the roster. Poythress is 6-8, 239 pounds, and he will be a critical player as the Wildcats look to contain Wisconsin’s multi-talented big men. Poythress doesn’t score a ton of points, but his size, experience and rebounding skills will be much-needed in this game.

Aaron Harrison – A big (6-6), talented guard, Aaron is one-half of Kentucky’s vaunted Harrison twins combo. He’s been extremely clutch of late, hitting big shots when the Wildcats need them most. None was bigger than the last-second three-pointer he knocked down against Michigan, the shot over a defender’s outstretched hand that sent Kentucky to the Final Four. Harrison is a big-time scorer, playmaker and long-distance shooter. If Kentucky needs a bucket late, look for him to take the shot.

Wisconsin

Frank Kaminsky – With every big shot, the legend of “Frank the Tank” continues to grow. Earlier this season, I thought Kaminsky was merely a nice piece of Bo Ryan’s offense, while Sam Dekker or Ben Brust would be the real scoring threats. I did not foresee—who did?—the ascendance of Frank Kaminsky.

At 7-0, 234 pounds, averaging 14.1 points and 6.4 boards per game, Big Frank is a walking matchup problem. The junior is a stretch-5, if such a position actually exists. He shoots the three-ball with devastating accuracy, passes extremely well and commands double-teams on the low block. To watch him work in the post is to watch a man with nearly limitless options—up-and-under, drop step left or right, shot-fake-and-drive, jump hook, etc., etc. Kaminsky scored 28 points on Saturday against Arizona; he dropped 19 on Baylor in Sweet 16. When the big man is flowing, the Wisconsin offense is all but un-guardable.

Sam Dekker – Wisconsin’s second-most dangerous player has been a little quiet in the Tournament, but don’t let his numbers fool you. Dekker is a tall, versatile forward with a surplus of skill; a guy who can stretch the floor or finish near the rim. He’s only scored 7 points in his last two games, largely deferring to Kaminsky and others, but he’s due for an offensive explosion.

Traevon Jackson – Perhaps the most important player on this Badgers team, Jackson is Wisconsin’s only true ball-handling guard, and he makes the offense go. Turnovers just aren’t his thing—he’s always in control, finding the open man, initiating Bo Ryan’s intricate sets. The savvy junior is a clutch late-game scorer, but he’s most effective spearheading the offense and getting his shooters good looks at the rim.

What To Watch For

Two very different coaches with very different philosophies will square off in North Texas. John Calipari is the one-and-done guy, the master recruiter who hordes All-Americans and wins National Championships with them. His teams are always long on talent and short on experience, and this year’s Kentucky squad is no exception.

Bo Ryan is all about the Wisconsin system, the ongoing development of a player from freshman to sophomore to junior. Most of his kids aren’t going to the NBA, and that’s fine with Bo. They stick around for three or four years and, like Frank Kaminsky, sometimes develop into a special kind of player.

Stylistically, Kentucky leans on its superior athleticism, its ability to break down defenders and its rebounding. Randle is a beast. Wisconsin plays pretty good defense, no doubt, but it’s the offensive end where the Badgers really shine. They’re an excellent passing team, good screeners, deadly with the shot fake. Kaminsky toys with defenders.

My questions for this game: Can Wisconsin defend the powerful Wildcats, particularly Randle and the Harrisons? And can Kentucky find any solution for Kaminsky and Badgers’ offense?

There’s a handful of unbelievable college prospects eligible for the ’14 Draft. Which will have the greatest NBA career? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The 2014 NBA Draft has been seen as the Holy Grail with a dozen impact players who can elevate a franchise. The projected top-five picks have the potential to be All-Stars in their inaugural season. This is an especially tremendous number when it is also considered that typical Drafts have five to 10 rotational players and this Draft could have 15 to 20 depending on development. With the NBA Draft Index, we will track the top players throughout the rest of the college season.

1) Jabari Parker, 6-8, G/F, Duke

The skill package is just too impressive to pass up for the top spot. Return of his bounce and acceleration from last season’s leg injury has surprised scouts. Must become a better perimeter defender or will slide down. Assist/turnover ratio disappointing, must show more trust in teammates.

2) Andrew Wiggins, 6-8, G/F, Kansas

The “wow” factor in this Draft. Has shown incredible bounce and quickness. He’s still continuing to develop as a basketball player. Excels in transition. Has good shooting mechanics, look for continued development of his handle. Should become a better distributor as season goes on. Athletism is in the top one-tenth percentile in the world.

3) Marcus Smart, 6-4, G, Oklahoma State

Consummate winner who has excelled at the point on the collegiate level. New defensive rules make Smart unguardable. Strength, quickness and passing ability impress while three-point consistency remains a question. Fierce competitor, but the Memphis game exposed that he makes errors by forcing the issue.

4) Joel Embiid, 7-0, C, Kansas

Late-blooming skilled 4/5. Has 7-5 wingspan. Terrific touch and face-up skills. Needs to become more assertive in post. Former soccer star has only been playing for three years. His long-term potential is immense. As the season progresses, his confidence will rise and so will his dominance.

5) Julius Randle, 6-9, F, Kentucky

Southpaw has the power and quickness to dominate the game. Most comfortable 15 feet and in, will be tested with NBA defender’s size and length. Tunnel vision has led to over 3 turnovers per game average. Shows consistent motor, good footwork and great balance. Underrated athlete and competitor, averages nearly 9 free-throw attempts per game.

6) James Young, 6-6, G/F, Kentucky

Athletic lefty is Kentucky’s most complete talent possessing deep three-point range to go along with good ability to finish at the rim. Low shooting percentage is more an indicator of lack of time with the basketball as he fights for touches with talented Wildcat cast. Game will translate to the next level at the shooting guard position.

7) Noah Vonleh, 6-10, F, Indiana

Double-double machine has great length and athleticism as he is just starting to unlock his offensive talent. Game has the ability to expand with sneaky perimeter skills including ability to hit three-point shot. 7-4 wingspan needs to add strength and lose tweener label.

8) Aaron Gordon, 6-8, F, Arizona

Understands and is willing to play his role for the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats. Dynamic athlete with quality ball skills. Has really impressed with his passing ability. Efficient player who must improve perimeter shot. Currently projects as a 4 on the next level. Wingspan is 6-11.

9) Montrezl Harrell, 6-8, F/C, Louisville

Lacks refined offensive game, but the long and bouncy above-the-rim performer has room to grow. Terrific motor, “manimalistic” on the glass with a mid-range game. 7-4 wingspan makes up for being a bit undersized for the next level.

10) Rodney Hood, 6-8, G/F, Duke

Prospective 2-guard excels in catch and shoot situations. Scorching this season over 45 percent from behind the arc and over 61 percent on two-point shots. Capable of doing more than score, needs to show ability to distribute the basketball as well as rebound at a higher level. Not an above-the-rim player, will be tested defending the perimeter on the next level.

11) Jerami Grant, 6-8, F, Syracuse

Rising talent is son of former NBA and Clemson standout Harvey Grant. Looks to follow track of former DeMatha Stag, Victor Oladipo. Backing up strong summer with tripling his output for surprising Orange. Explosive, athletic and long with a high motor. Must gain consistency with perimeter shot and extend shooting range.

12) Gary Harris, 6-4, G, Michigan State

Terrific scorer with a fantastic mid-range game but durability is a concern. Harris continues to fight the injury bug. Quality finisher with an array moves around the basket to complement three-point ability. Will need to refine ball-handling skills to progress.

THE NEXT TIER

Andrew Harrison, 6-5, G, Kentucky

Oozes with talent but continues to battle with not being the top option at Kentucky. Can get separation, score at the basket and hit the deep three. Looks to be a better pro if he can lose the selfishness and poor body language. Brother Aaron is quickly closing the gap between the siblings.

Zach LaVine, 6-5, G, UCLA

Freshman scorer doesn’t get the press his game deserves. Talented on the perimeter and even better athlete. Long, thin, has flaws, but this late bloomer is a potential lottery pick.

Brandon Ashley, 6-9, F, Arizona

Has been the unsung hero for the ‘Cats in the early part of the season. Quality scoring option who has become a match-up nightmare for opponents. Does all the little things when it counts. Impressive perimeter skills, looking more and more like a pro each game.

ALL-RIP VAN WINKLE TEAM (Players who have suddenly woken up this season to be valuable for their team)

Casey Prather, 6-5, F, Florida, SR

Has become the Gator’s top gun, tripling his scoring and improving across the board in his contributions.

Perry Ellis, 6-8, F, Kansas, SO

Former McDonald’s All American looked like a bust last season, has quietly been the most consistent Jayhawk.

Brice Johnson, 6-9, F, North Carolina, SO

Confident scorer has been a big part of three notable early season Tar Heel victories. Averaging double-figures in only 20 minutes per game.

Leigh Klein was formerly on staff at Texas and Rhode Island and is a popular guest on radio. He now owns Five-Star Basketball Camps, the nation’s top basketball camp. He contributes to SLAMonline and its coverage of college basketball and the NBA Draft. Klein can be followed at @LeighAlanKlein.

Like everyone else in the hoops world this week, Kevin Durant was glued to his TV and riveted by the Andrew Wiggins/Jabari Parker showdown. Durant loves both kids’ games, and thinks Wiggins — who has tried to deflect comparisons to superstars like Durant — has an extremely high ceiling once he makes it to the NBA. Per Yahoo! Sports: “He’s raw, but his ceiling is high. He can be like a Hall of Famer, All-Star, for sure. He’s good,’ said Durant before the Thunder’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. Durant said he watched closely on television as Wiggins and Kansas defeated Duke on Tuesday night. Duke features another talented true freshman forward in Jabari Parker, whom Durant also thinks highly of after working with him at his basketball camp last summer. Some NBA general managers and scouts aren’t convinced Wiggins is the clear No. 1 overall pick, with Parker, Kentucky freshman forward Julius Randle, Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart and Australian guard Dante Exum in the running. ‘That [Parker] kid is amazing,’ Durant said. ‘I think he is the best player in the country. Him and Wiggins are like ‘1A’ and ‘1B.’ Those guys are going to do the one-and-done thing, do it early. They are going to do really well in college and lead their teams to, I think, the Final Four. That’s kind of like, ‘Close your eyes and pick one.’ You’re good with either one of those guys. I love Jabari’s game. He’s so skilled. He has it all right now. Wiggins is on another level with God-given ability. You look at him, you can tell he’s going to be really big and fill out a lot. He’s really athletic.’ Durant said the next generation of basketball players are ahead of the curve in large part because of technology.”

Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Julius Randle all showed off what they can do on Tuesday night. Which one will have the best NBA career? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The tournament’s first game was fantastic, and featured a matchup of the country’s top two teams for the first time since 2008. Like in ’08, the No. 2 team defeated the John Calipari-led No. 1 team on Tuesday night in what will go down as one of college basketball’s best games of the season.

The Spartans were led by its dynamic backcourt of Keith Appling and Gary Harris. The duo combined for 42 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 7 steals, and constantly frustrated Kentucky’s inexperienced guards. Michigan State jumped out to an early 10-0 lead and never looked back, despite Kentucky fighting valiantly, particularly star freshman Julius Randle. The Dallas native showed why he’s a contender to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft with a 27-point, 13-rebound performance.

While the Wildcats were able to make things very interesting, even tying the game with 4:48 left to go, they were unable to overcome their early deficit, and by the time the polls are released next week, Michigan State will almost certainly be the No. 1 team in America.

The second game of the night was just as wild, with Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker both exploding onto the national scene. While Parker had the better night—he had 27 points and 9 rebounds compared to 22 points and 8 rebounds for Wiggins—it was Wiggins’ Jayhawks coming away with the win.

The game was much closer than the score indicated. Much of the game was spent with neither team leading by more than five points until the very end, when Duke needed to start fouling in an attempt to keep the game close. However, behind Wiggins and a 24-point, 9-rebound performance from sophomore forward Perry Ellis, the Jayhawks came out on top.

Both games were fantastic, and college basketball fans should cross their fingers that we see these teams cross paths again sometime later this season.

Three of the most sought-after NBA draft picks in the 2014 class were on display last night, playing in front of a national TV audience as NBA GMs salivated. According to Coach K, no team would ever dream of tanking for the chance to nab Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker or Julius Randle next summer. No, sir: “If that is happening, shame on whoever is doing it,’ Coach K said in response to a question following No. 5 Kansas’ 94-83 victory over No. 4 Duke in the Champions Classic. Then he jokingly asked a reporter, ‘Are you doing it?’ At least one NBA GM told ESPN.com that he was effectively tanking. ‘Our team isn’t good enough to win and we know it … Sometimes my job is to understand the value of losing,’ he said. And an NBA executive told SNY.tv he believes as many as six NBA teams are doing something similar because they have ‘unqualified GMs’ who are using this loaded draft as an excuse. ‘They are [tanking] but they shouldn’t,’ that NBA executive added at the Champions Classic. ‘They are tanking to save their jobs from their own inadequacies not because Julius Randle can score around the basket and [Andrew] Wiggins can catch lobs.’ For a guy like Coach K, it’s just hard to ‘fathom’ that any NBA team would do such a thing. ‘As an American I wouldn’t like to think that an American team would [ever] want to lose or create situations where you would want to lose,’ he said. ‘I can’t even fathom. I can’t go there. I can’t believe that that would happen. Maybe I’m naive and I’m going to go ready a fairytale after this.’ […] No matter how you rank them, one thing is clear: All three are special talents who might be worth tanking for. Or at least, if you end up with a top 3 or 4 pick, you certainly have a lot to look forward to. ‘I don’t think anybody’s tanking,’ Kansas coach Bill Self said. ‘I know that guys that like to play, compete and I guess you can make sure that you don’t play certain guys, which I don’t think has happened. But I think that those three all have a chance to be special.'”

It’s not often that college basketball has its marquee night during the season’s first week, but due to State Farm Champions Classic in Chicago, four of the top five teams in America will play tonight. No. 1 Kentucky (2-0) will take on No. 2 Michigan State (1-0) at 7:30 p.m., followed by No. 4 Duke (1-0) vs. No. 5 Kansas (1-0) at 9:30 p.m.

The first matchup will be the first time February 24, 2008, when No. 2 Tennessee defeated No. 1 Memphis, who was ironically coached by Kentucky head man John Calipari, 66-62. The two teams haven’t played since 2005, when Michigan State knocked Kentucky out of the NCAA Tournament, 94-88 in two overtimes.

Beyond the fact that John Calipari vs. Tom Izzo could be college basketball’s best coaching matchup this year, it’s quite possible that we’re seeing several future NBA All-Stars in this game. Michigan State’s Adreian Payne and Gary Harris will almost certainly play in the League next year, while Kentucky has its usual bevy of freshmen NBA prospects, headlined by potential top-three pick Julius Randle, James Young, Andrew Harrison and Aaron Harrison.

Both teams have been dominant so far this season. Kentucky has trounced UNC-Asheville and Northern Kentucky, 89-57 and 93-63, respectively. The Wildcats are led by Randle, who has been a monster this year, averaging a team-high 22.5 points and 14.5 rebounds per game. As for the Spartans, they looked fantastic in their matchup with McNeese State, winning 98-56 behind 20 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists from Harris.

The night’s second game features another marquee coaching matchup, with Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski facing off against Kansas’s Bill Self. However, all eyes are on the matchup between two freshmen who have been both labeled as (possibly) the next LeBron James—Duke’s Jabari Parker and Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins.

Parker, a 6-8 forward from Chicago, shined in Duke’s 111-77 obliteration of Davidson on Friday night, putting up 22 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists on 80 percent shooting for the Blue Devils. Wiggins, a 6-7 guard from Ontario, wasn’t as impressive in the Jayhawks’ 80-63 victory over Louisiana-Monroe, but he did put up a very respectable 16 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

The two teams haven’t played since November 23, 2011 at the Maui Invitational. Duke, led by 17 points from both Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee, overcame a double-double from Thomas Robinson to defeat the Jayhawks, 68-61.

Tonight will almost certainly shape the course of the rest of the college basketball season, and could possibly have an impact on the 2014 NBA Draft. Get ready, because tonight is one of college basketball’s biggest regular-season nights of all time.

The ’12-13 season could not be summarized as anything less than a disappointment for the Kentucky Wildcats. Nerlens Noel was the best defender in college basketball, only to have his season truncated after a torn ACL.

Reeling in the top recruiting class in the nation and coming off an Anthony Davis-paced chip in 2011, the Cats were expected to be going for two. A 21-12 record and first-round loss in the NIT later, and there was a sense of disappointment, but no worries. Why? John Calipari landed the greatest recruiting class of all time.

“This is an incredible night to celebrate the things that make our program great,” Calipari announced from a makeshift stage on the court. Easily confused with something you’d hear from a politician, Coach Cal captivated the 24,000-plus in attendance, including former players John Wall, Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans.

“We don’t play college basketball; We are college basketball,” he said. “This is a place where nothing is given and everything is earned.”

With dialogue that not only boasted UK’s successes over the his four years in Lexington, but made it awfully hard for undecided recruits such as Stanley Johnson, Trey Lyles and James Blackmon to vow to play for anyone but Calipari. Elite youngsters Jayson Tatum, Josh Langford, Harry Giles and Eric Davis also made the journey to take in BBM and see the first hand insanity that is Kentucky basketball.

The theatrical performance behind us, there was a 2o-minute scrimmage held that gave us a preview of the new-look Wildcats. There were a lot of highlights, a little bit of defense, and an entire arena of fans who were loving every second of it. The Blue team ultimately ended up with a 65-49 game in the culmination of the UK basketball tip-off celebration.

Here are a few of the standouts:

Julius Randle, 6-9, PF, Freshman

Leading the Blue team to the W with 14 points, Randle bullied his way to the cup on the regular. He was relentless attacking the rim, finished with both hands, and brought the fans to their feet with a few of his dunks in warmups. Some feel that the Dallas product is right there in the mix with Andrew Wiggins for top pick in the NBA Draft and if UK is able to win the chip as many think they will, just may have the chance to make that dream reality.

Andrew Harrison, 6-5, PG, Freshman

Busting out the steel grey Jordan Xs, Andrew had the dopest kicks of any of the Wildcats. He also had some sick takes to the rim, filthy no-look passes, and tough finishes at the cup with both hands. The dribble drive is back for Coach Calipari and it will be Andrew Harrison directing traffic for the ’13-14 campaign.

Aaron Harrison, 6-5, SG, Freshman

The scorer of the twins, Aaron Harrison got buckets in an efficient manner at Big Blue Madness. He kept the D honest with his jumper, got to the hole in a few bounces, and showed the he could create his own shot in Cal’s dribble drive. Although Andrew gets a lot of the acclaim, Aaron is just as devastating of a player because of his way to hang points on the board and lock down on the defensive end.

Jarrod Polson, 6-2, PG, Senior

Last year’s walk-on-turned-contributor shocked the crowd with his bounce when he threw down a 360 in warmups. He had a couple of buckets in the scrimmage and while Andrew Harrison will be logging the bulk of the minutes for the Wildcats at point guard, expect Polson to get some burn yet again in his final campaign for the Wildcats and continue to be one of the fan favorites on the squad.

Marcus Smart and Julius Randle ended up in an Arlington, TX, gym together this week and, of course, an impromptu dunk-off transpired. Check out the damage done by the Dallas-area natives. We can’t name a winner.

It goes without saying that this class is the deepest in a long time—to most, the best since 2007. The basketball world seems to already be looking forward to the 2014 NBA Draft more than this year’s. Canada should have a lot to be proud of with this class, as Tyler Ennis and Xavier Rathan-Mayes will have an immediate impact on their respective collegiate teams, just as much as Andrew Wiggins will.

Overall, one player who really needs to be acknowledged is Joel Embiid. He has transformed from an unranked, unknown prospect into one of the nation’s premier centers. He’s only been playing basketball for about a year-and-a-half, and although his offensive game is still on the raw side, he’s shown that he can protect the rim with the best of them.

One player that you’ll see on this list who has been booted from most others is Aquille Carr. Truth be told, it baffles me why the “others” have bumped him out of their rankings. Something tells me that folks are judging him based on his legal troubles instead of his on-court production. I mean, it has to be. Why else would someone who averaged about 30 points and 6 assists this past season somehow not be worthy of a ranking spot? How many guys of his size do you know who can put up those numbers? Of any size, for that matter. And he’s done it against the cream of the crop, including a game-high 24-point outing against Andrew Wiggins’ Huntington Prep. All I’m saying is it doesn’t add up to me. It’s funny though, because when Lance Stephenson got in trouble back in HS, his name also dropped in the rankings. But he was 6-5, so they obviously couldn’t just simply wipe him off the list. I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I do think it’s safe to say that we’re all rooting for Aquille here in his future overseas endeavors.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. Back to these rankings. Kentucky is obviously the most well represented in here with six of the top 18 prospects. But Kansas isn’t too far behind—they have five out of the top 41 players, including the most sought-out in Wiggins. Duke and Memphis are also well represented with the Blue Devils having three out of the top 36, while the Tigers feature three out of the top 42. All in all, if you’re a college basketball fan, then you have a whole lot to be excited for come fall.

RANK

PLAYER

HEIGHT

POSITION

SCHOOL

COLLEGE

WHY?

1

Andrew Wiggins

6-8

SF

Huntington Prep (WV)

Kansas

His athleticism is just too much for opponents to keep up with.

2

Jabari Parker

6-8

SF

Simeon (IL)

Duke

Skill sets beyond his years.

3

Julius Randle

6-9

PF

Prestonwood (TX)

Kentucky

Beast-mode when attacking the rim.

4

Andrew Harrison

6-5

PG

Travis (TX)

Kentucky

Great tempo and pace as court leader.

5

Aaron Gordon

6-9

PF

Archbishop Mitty (CA)

Arizona

High-flyer whose game continues to expand.

6

Aaron Harrison

6-5

SG

Travis (TX)

Kentucky

A pure natural scorer.

7

Noah Vonleh

6-8

PF

New Hampton (NH)

Indiana

Versatile big with lots of upside. Can play multiple positions.

8

James Young

6-6

SF

Rochester (MI)

Kentucky

Strong and explosive wing who can finish above the rim or from distance.

9

Chris Walker

6-10

PF

Holmes County (FL)

Florida

Great athlete who loves playing above the rim.

10

Kasey Hill

6-1

PG

Montverde (FL)

Florida

Quick guard who loves working off the dribble.

11

Wayne Selden

6-5

SG

Tilton (NH)

Kansas

Explosiveness, speed and hops.

12

Dakari Johnson

6-10

C

Montverde (FL)

Kentucky

When he’s on it, very tough to stop in the paint.

13

Jarell Martin

6-8

PF

Madison Prep (LA)

LSU

Athletic forward who still has much upside.

14

Bobby Portis

6-10

PF

Hall (AR)

Arkansas

Although he gets most of his work in the paint, he can step out and be a threat with range.

15

Austin Nichols

6-8

PF

Briarcrest Christian (TN)

Memphis

Post moves and mid-range jumpers all-day.

16

Isaiah Hicks

6-8

PF

Webb (NC)

North Carolina

His explosiveness makes him tough to stop in the lane.

17

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

6-7

SF

Chester (PA)

Arizona

Lefty forward whose athleticism gives him an edge on most opponents, but can also create for others.

18

Marcus Lee

6-9

PF

Deer Valley (CA)

Kentucky

Stands out as a rebounder and shot-blocker.

19

Rysheed Jordan

6-3

PG

Robert Vaux (PA)

St. John’s

Explosive guard who gets to the rim in a hurry.

20

Isaac Hamilton

6-5

SG

St. John Bosco (CA)

UTEP

Shooter who also possesses some PG skills.

21

Zak Irvin

6-6

SF

Hamilton Southeastern (IN)

Michigan

Wing who drastically improved over the last year; can sink it from distance, or put the ball on the floor and make his way to the rim.

22

Anthony Barber

6-2

PG

Hampton (VA)

South Carolina

Highly crafty guard with a seemingly natural feel for the game.

23

Jabari Bird

6-6

SG

Salesian (CA)

California

Explosive wing with impressive finishes at the basket—and can shoot it too.

24

Jermaine Lawrence

6-9

PF

Pope John XXII (NJ)

Cincinnati

Multifaceted big man.

25

Nigel Williams-Goss

6-3

PG

Findlay (NV)

Washington

Very efficient on both ends of the floor. Plays smart.

26

Joel Embiid

7-0

C

Rock School (FL)

Kansas

Started at the bottom, now he’s one of the top-ranked centers in the nation.

27

Kuran Iverson

6-8

SF

Fishburne (VA)

Memphis

Pure scorer, streaky shooter.

28

Demetrius Jackson

6-1

PG

Marian (IN)

Notre Dame

The type of PG they will love at South Bend.

29

Robert Hubbs

6-5

SG

Dyer County (TN)

Tennessee

High-flying, crowd-pleasing athlete.

30

Tyler Ennis

6-2

PG

St. Benedict’s (NJ)

Syracuse

Canadian native whose floor-leading skills can create for himself and others.

31

JaJuan Johnson

6-5

SG

Southwinnd (TN)

Marquette

Averaged over 20 ppg, won 3A Tourney MVP after state championship.

32

Keith Frazier

6-5

SG

Kimball (TX)

SMU

Good shooter with deep range.

33

Derrick Walton

6-0

PG

Chandler Park (MI)

Michigan

Your ideal savvy point guard with range.

34

Matt Jones

6-4

SG

DeSoto (TX)

Duke

All you need to remember is the he can shoot it.

35

Tyler Roberson

6-7

PF

Roselle (NJ)

Syracuse

Active defender who can score inside or out.

36

Semi Ojeleye

6-6

SF

Ottawa (KS)

Duke

A tough and strong wing who has deep range.

37

Xavier Rathan-Mayes

6-6

SF

DeSoto (TX)

Florida State

Great offensive talent.

38

Brannen Greene

6-6

SG

Tift (GA)

Kansas

Shooter who can also take it to the hole.

39

Eric Mika

6-9

C

Lone Peak (UT)

BYU

Very efficient on both ends of the floor.

40

Jordan Mickey

6-8

PF

Prime Prep (TX)

LSU

Can contribute differently every night: on the boards, the paint or from mid-range.

41

Conner Frankamp

6-0

PG

Wichita North (KS)

Kansas

One of the nation’s top scorers, shooters.

42

Nick King

6-6

SF

East (TN)

Memphis

Lefty wing who does a little bit of everything.

43

Sindarius Thornwell

6-5

SG

Oak Hill (VA)

South Carolina

Versatility that allows him to succeed at both guard positions.

44

Deonte Burton

6-4

SF

Vincent (WI)

Marquette

Lefty wing with impressive athleticism.

45

Zach LaVine

6-3

PG

Bothell (WA)

UCLA

Can score but also distribute.

46

Anton Gill

6-3

SG

Hargrave Military (VA)

Louisville

Versatile scorer who also takes care of business on the defensive end.

47

Roddy Peters

6-4

PG

Suitland (MD)

Maryland

Great at breaking down the defense and creating room.

48

Troy Williams

6-7

SF

Oak Hill (VA)

Indiana

Slick forward who uses his athleticism and explosiveness to his advantage.

49

Brandon Austin

6-6

SF

Imhotep Institute (PA)

Providence

Can handle the ball and out at the guard positions.

50

Duane Wilson

6-3

PG

Dominican (WI)

Marquette

Athletic scoring guard that also find the open man.

51

Matt Thomas

6-3

SG

Onalaska (WI)

Iowa State

Can hit the J from all distances.

52

Devin Williams

6-8

PF

Montverde (FL)

West Virginia

His game stretches out to a few feet away from the perimeter offensive and is just as effective crashing the boards.

53

Moses Kingsley

6-9

C

Huntington Prep (WV)

Arkansas

Most impressive past is his upside.

54

Christian Wood

6-10

PF

Findlay (NV)

UNLV

Impressive shooter whose game extends well beyond the perimeter.

55

Ishmail Wainright

6-6

SF

Montrose Christian (MD)

Baylor

Unselfish forward known for being a facilitator and great defender.

56

Kennedy Meeks

6-9

C

West Charlotte (NC)

North Carolina

Defenders got their work cut for them in the paint with him.

57

Johnathan Williams

6-8

PF

Southwind (TN)

Missouri

Forward who can handle the ball and make plays for teammates.

58

Kendrick Nunn

6-2

SG

Simeon (IL)

Illinois

Versatile guard who can play either the 1 or the 2 position.

59

Beejay Anya

6-9

C

DeMatha (MD)

North Carolina State

Has the tools to become a dominant big man.

60

Kendall Stephens

6-5

SG

St. Charles East (IL)

Purdue

Possesses great length as well as range.

61

Luke Fischer

6-9

C

Germantown (WI)

Indiana

Wisconsin POY after doing 21 ppg, 9.4 rpg.

62

Malcolm Hill

6-6

SG

Belleville (IL)

Illinois

Averaged 25.3 points and 6.1 rebounds.

63

Marc Loving

6-8

SF

Saint John’s (OH)

Ohio State

Mr. Basketball for Ohio; range beyond perimeter.

64

Nick Emery

6-2

PG

Lone Peak (UT)

BYU

A natural scorer with a deadly jumper.

65

Kameron Williams

6-3

SG

Mount Saint Joseph (MD)

Ohio State

Loves to shoot it and can sink in all types of situations.

66

Aquille Carr

5-7

PG

Princeton Day (NJ)

Overseas

Explosive guard with fearless instincts.

67

Stevie Clark

5-9

PG

Douglass (OK)

Oklahoma State

Just like Aquille, another under-six feet guard who’s a fearless competitor.

68

Reggie Cameron

6-7

PF

Hudson Catholic (NJ)

Georgetown

Deadly jumper.

69

Jimmie Taylor

6-10

PF

Greensboro (AL)

Alabama

Known for his shot-blocking abilities, but can also do damage in the post.

70

Karviar Shepherd

6-9

C

Prime Prep (TX)

TCU

The paint is where he controls.

71

Jordan Bell

6-7

PF

Long Beach Polytechnic (CA)

Oregon

Although still raw offensively, he gets it done on the glass and contesting shots.

72

John Egbunu

6-10

C

Fort Walton Beach (FL)

South Florida

Despite visibly talented, loads of upside is what makes him an interesting prospect.

Our annual mid-April HS All-American photo shoot is always one of the more exciting shoots we get to do every year. But this one was special. See, the guys you see in the photo above and in the gallery below (scroll through it!) collectively have expectations that are way higher than those in any of the All-American classes we’ve had in recent memory. All are projected to be top 10 picks in next year’s NBA Draft. This has even been referred to as the best prep class since 2007—which featured the likes of Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin and James Harden—and next year’s Draft class has already been projected by many to be the most talented since the 2003 LBJ/D-Wade/Melo-led group. Ultimately, the group shot above has the chance to be a classic one somewhere down the road.

These guys don’t need any introduction, since by now you’ve more than likely already heard their names or seen their highlight mixtapes. Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins have dealt with King James-type hype over the course of the last two seasons. Aaron Gordon’s off-the-charts athleticism has already anointed him as the second-coming of Blake Griffin. Meanwhile, the Harrison twins have garnered attention for their superior guard skills and many believe they are the next great guards coming up the pipeline. And then there’s Julius Randle, who has proven to embody college-ready (or possibly even pro-ready) physique for the last few years. And when you click over to the second page of this post, you’ll see that the second team, third team, and honorable mentions have the potential to be just as special. We can’t wait for these studs take the floor for their respective collegiate teams in the fall—congrats to all of them!

Also, shout out to the Jordan Brand for their help with the shoot, providing the sick kicks on display and all they do off-court, and also big ups to Shirts & Skins for the dope SLAM unis they put together once again!

This is it. Arguably the best All-American class since 2007 takes the floor for one last time tonight. There are many who consider this class to be the best in as many as six years, alluding to the 2007 class that featured the likes of Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo, Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Eric Gordon, Jerryd Bayless, Donte Greene and DeAndre Jordan, among many others. Only time will tell if this group will live up to what the guys in the ’07 class went on to achieve.

Many of the prospects that will be playing in tonight’s game need no introduction, as many of you have become familiar with the names via the mixtapes we constantly run on basketball’s rising stars and the class rankings we do every few months. The two names that you might be the most familiar with are Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins. After all, they were the cover boys of SLAM 167 and all over newsstands for the past month.

The highly anticipated matchup between Parker and Wiggins never quite materialized to what fans had hoped for at the McDonald’s All-American Game last week. But since tonight they are on opposite teams once again, maybe this time they will go head-to-head a little more frequently—let’s hope.

A few other guys in this game have drawn comparisons to the players in the aforementioned Class of 2007. Kentucky-bound point guard Andrew Harrison has been compared to Chicago Bulls’ Rose. Then there’s this guy named Aaron Gordon, who is going to play at Arizona in the fall and has drawn comparisons to high-flying dunker and ’07 JBC alumni Griffin of the L.A. Clippers. Point is, this class is loaded with studs like no class in recent memory.

One thing I feel should be noted is that although the All-Americans have been split into East and West just like they were at the McDonald’s game last week, some of the players have been shuffled from one team to the other. For example, the Texas players: Julius Randle, Andrew Harrison and Aaron Harrison are now playing for the East Team instead of the West. Yet, Kentucky-bound center Dakari Johnson, who is from New York and played HS ball in Florida, will be playing for the West Team instead of the East now. Indiana-bound Noah Vonleh, who is from Massachusetts and played prep ball at New Hampshire will now play for the West Team instead of the East. Yes, very weird, confusing and random, I know.

Figured why not fill you in on the results from the afternoon games. The international game, which was played at 3:30 p.m. EST, saw Lovro Mazalin and Jamal Murray take home the MVP honors. Mazain, from Croatia, finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Murray, hailing from Canada, finished with a game-high 24 points and 7 rebounds.

We will be back after the regional game in a few minutes to fill you in on the top scorers from that game.

7:50 Spike Lee is in the building wearing a black New York Knicks hoodie.

7:55 I must say Kentucky is by far the most represented college on the crowd based on all the blue shirts scattered throughout the arena. Big Blue Nation is everywhere.

7:57 Prediction: East wins by 15.

8:00 Canada is also well represented in the crowd. Canadians Tyler Ennis and Andrew Wiggins got the biggest ovations during player intros.

8:03 Brooklyn’s own Michael Jordan is in the building as well; has his own suite.

8:08 Walker, a Florida recruit, with six of the East’s first eight points.

8:10 Julius Randle gets blocked trying to posterized Joel Embid.

8:12 East is up 10-6 heading into the first television timeout.

8:15 Carmelo Anthony just took his seat and Barclays Center went crazy.

8:20 So Drakes walks in and even the game photographers turned around and started taking pictures of him. Suddenly everyone forget there was a game going on.

8:29 Nice crowd tonight, about 80% full.

8:31 Chris Walker leading all scorer so far with 10 points. West is up 30-26.

8:38 Nice up and under by Kuran Iverson, followed fastbreak by Jabari Parker on the other end of the floor. This game is relatively very slow-paced for an all-star game.

8:46 Andrew Wiggins lobs it up to Julius Randle for the dunk. We might be seeing a whole lot of that at Kentucky next year… maybe.

8:49 West leading the East 42-38 at halftime. Walker leads all scorers with 10 points. James Young, Williams-Goss, Troy Williams, and Parker all have six points each.

9:00 Joel Embid brought his defensive game tonight with three blocks at the half.

9:03 The East Team is 1 for 13 from behind the perimeter (13%) and 1 for 5 from the free throw line (20%). Yeah, that’s not good.

9:07 And right after I say that, Andrew Harrison hits a three for the East to start the second half.

9:15 Williams-Goss is 3-for-4 from the field, along with four assists. They’re going to love him at Washington next year.

9:20 Ennis with back-to-back baskets. He is 4-fo-6 from the field. The east leads by one, 59-58 with 14 minutes to go.

9:25 Wiggins is getting hot now for the east with consecutive baskets. He leads all scorers with 13 points.

9:35 Williams-Goss hits a three-pointer. He is now 5-for-6 from the field. 12 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds so far. Games is tied at 76 a piece with under 8 minutes to go.

9:45 Like Ben mentioned in the comments section, the guys are actually playing defense (which doesn’t usually happen in all-star games like these) so maybe that explains the lack of highlight reel dunks?

9:47 And right after saying that, Ennis lobs it to Aaron Harrison for the dunk, followed by Kentucky-bound James Young with a one-handed slam on the other end of the floor.

9:49 Kasey Hill hits a three-pointer and then finds Parker in the paint on the next possession to tie the game at 86 with under four minutes to go.

9:52 Ennis lobs it to Randle for the dunk. Ennis got six assists, so do And. Harrison and Hill.

9:55 Tied at 88 points with 2:31 remaining. Guys have ironically been playing defense throughout. There’s a bunch of guys with four and five fouls out there.

9:59 The defensive effort is all of the sudden not there. A whole lot of back and forth lay-ups. Tied at 96 with 50.5 seconds to go.

10:01 Williams-Goss with the conventional three-point play to put the West up 99-96 with 30 secs left.

10:02 Not sure if the crowd was booing Wiggins or the refs in that play, but they are not happy that the East is losing.

10:04 Randle hits the lay-up but the East is still down 100-98 with 1.5 seconds to go.

10:05 Williams-Goss at the free throw line with 0.4 remaining. He makes both to seal it at 102-98.

10:08 Julius Randle (19 points & 7 rebounds) and Jabari Parker (16 points and 7 rebounds) are named the MVPs of the 2013 Jordan Brand Classic. Andrew Wiggins also finished with 19 points, to go along with 5 rebounds. Williams-Goss led the West in scoring with 17 points (6 for 7 from the floor), 4 assists and 3 rebounds.

How’s it going, everyone? I’m in Chicago for the McDonald’s All-American games. Last time I was here was two seasons ago when most of the country was first introduced to a local kid named Anthony Davis. The other boys on the floor weren’t too bad either, as the game featured Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Cody Zeller, Michael Carter-Williams and Bradley Beal. If this year’s crop is even half as talented as that one, we’re going to have one heck of a show at the United Center.

Just like two years ago, the focus is on a local kid—Jabari Parker. The Simeon product just shared our SLAM 167 cover with Andrew Wiggins, a couple of players who have seen their hype grow to Lebron James levels. Watching Parker, who is on the West team, and Wiggins, who is on the East team, go head-to-head should be the highlight of the evening.

But those aren’t the only two players to keep your eye on. Joining Parker on the West squad will be Aaron Gordon, who just committed to Arizona this week, and the Harrison twins, Aaron and Andrew, who will be lacing it up for Kentucky next season. Meanwhile, the Harrisons’ future teammate, Julius Randle, might steal the show from Wiggins on the East team.

Before the boys got started, it was the girls’ turn to take the floor. After trailing briefly at 2-0, the West team took the lead and never got it back, finishing with an easy 92-64 victory. Mercedes Russell showed why she’s the nation’s top recruit by finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds for the West. Meanwhile, her future teammate at Tennessee, Jordan Reynolds, had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Boys game is coming up in about 30 minutes, so keep it locked here for tip.

Okay…I’m back at my seat. I just got some great pictures of the players getting ready to come up, including some amazing shots of Jabari Parker. Check it out on my Twitter: @dcassilo.

9:38 p.m.: Well we have our first highlight reel play of the night as Aaron Harrison throws down an alley-oop from his brother, Andrew. Next trip down, Andrew gets a bucket of his own. There’s two reasons Kentucky might have the best class since the Fab Five.

9:42 p.m.: West holds an 11-6 lead right now. If you’re looking for Wiggins and Parker, they are both wearing No. 22. Wiggins has 2 points and Parker is scoreless so far.

9:44 p.m.: Aaron Gordon is having a heck of week so far. He announced he was attending Arizona, and he’s had a couple of thunderous slam dunks. Looking like an early pick to steal the MVP from Parker or Wiggins…17-8 West.

9:48 p.m.: After the TV timeout, both Parker and Wiggins take a seat, so use this time to get to know the rest of these great players.

9:53 p.m.: Second TV timeout, and the West leads 20-13. One player that has really impressed so far is Anthony Barber. The NC State-bound point guard is a great with the ball in his hands, and he’s had plenty of moves that have excited the crowd.

9:58 p.m.: It doesn’t seem like Wiggins has done a lot, but he quietly has six points and two steals. Meanwhile, he’s locking down defensively on Parker.

10:00 p.m.: A three-pointer from Wayne Selden Jr. ties the game at 22. It’s pretty clear that we’re in for a much better game than the girls’ game was.

10:01 p.m.: Parker gets his first basket of the night, but he also fouls Wiggins. It’s his second foul of the night. Has anyone ever fouled out of this game?

10:05 p.m.: A couple of observations as the West hold a 34-30 lead. 1) It’s extremely difficult to see the uniform numbers on these new jerseys. 2) Unlike recent years, there isn’t a player in this class that has the same skill set as Anthony Davis and Nerlens Noel.

10:10 p.m.: Inbounds alley-oop to Jarell Martin is the early candidate for play of the night. Gordon and his 12 points, leading the way for MVP.

10:15 p.m.: It cannot be understated how good Kentucky will be next season. Every player they have in this game has done something impressive tonight, and it’s hard for me to pick who I like the most. Don’t forget Alex Poythress and Kyle Wiltjer are still around.

10:21 p.m.: Gordon might finish with the most points in this game, but Wiggins has been the best player so far. He’s incredibly patient and good things happen whenever he’s around the ball. Just threw down a two-handed jam, but his East squad trails 55-42.

10:23 p.m.: Right before half, Randle has a pretty reverse alley-oop. With all of this Parker and Wiggins talk, he’s been the forgotten man this season. As we hit halftime, the West leads 56-44. Gordon leads all scorers with 14 points, while Wiggins has 12 points for the East. Be back in 15 minutes for the second half.

10:42 p.m.: OK, we’re back and ready for the second half!

10:48 p.m.: In addition to Barber, another guy who has impressed is Martin. He has some great athleticism, and he is yet another solid building block at LSU.

10:55 p.m.: Another fastbreak huge slam for Gordon. If Gordon winds up winning MVP, it will be very reminiscent of when I was here in 2011, and James Michael McAdoo got the honor. West leads 74-54.

10:58 p.m.: Our chances of a good game here seem to be fleeting, as the West is up 20 points. As hope we get a lot of highlight worthy plays over the last 10 minutes to salvage this.

10:59 p.m.: As I type that, the East cuts the lead to 13 points. Parker has 10 points and 6 rebounds, and there will be some pressure to give him MVP if the West hangs on, but he’s an abysmal 4-for-13 from the field.

11:09 p.m.: A dunk by Keith Frazier cuts the West lead down to 11 points, which is the closest it’s been in quite some time. Perhaps we can still have a game here.

11:13 p.m.: Parker does a Q+A on the big screen during a TV timeout, and the crowd goes nuts. They love this kid. By the way, 15,818 people here tonight.

11:17 p.m.: A fastbreak layup for Demetrius Jackson cuts the West lead to six points, then a dunk by Dakari Johnson makes its 94-90. We have a game!

11:18 p.m.: The West responds with back-to-back baskets and is up 98-90. Gordon is now up to 20 points and five rebounds. He’s MVP unless the East steals this one.

11:26 p.m.: They didn’t result in anything, but Gordon just had a couple of pretty passes. He can do everything well for a man his size.

11:28 p.m.: Gordon just capped off a monster night with a devastating slam dunk. He’s at 24 points and 8 rebounds and checks out of the game. Ladies and gentleman, your MVP.

11:29 p.m.: West leads by 9 points here with less than a minute to go. I’m going to head down so I can get there in time for interviews. This was a fun night. Hope you had a good time!

The top power forward in the country announced live on ESPNU at about 1:18 p.m. today that he will be joining Kentucky’s Super Freshmen class in the fall after also considering Kansas, Texas, and Florida. He is projected to be a top-3 pick in next year’s NBA Draft. The 6-8 Texas native placed hats of the four respective schools he was considering in the table in front of him: Florida, Kansas, Kentucky and Texas—from left to right. Kentucky now arguably has the best recruiting class in the history of college basketball. The Wildcats have already received commitments from Andrew Harrison (the top point guard in the nation), Aaron Harrison (the top shooting guard in the nation), Dakari Johnson (the top center in the 2013 class), James Young (top 10 player), Marcus Lee (top 50 player) and Derek Willis. Andrew Wiggins, the top prep player in the nation and also cover boy of our current issue out (on newsstands now!), is also considering Kentucky. Say what you want about John Calipari, but when it comes to recruiting, he gets it done.

The most dominant player in the Class of 2013 underwent surgery in late November after fracturing his foot in a game against Duncanville. With his season in doubt, Julius Randle was originally left off the Mickey D’s roster, but he has since returned with a vengeance, helping his school, Prestonwood Christian, to a Class 5-A private school state title last week (including 34 and 22 in the championship game, and 40 and 15 in the semis).

It wouldn’tve been a true All-Star game without him. This from McDonald’s All American Games:

“Today, the McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee is pleased to name Julius Randle of Prestonwood Christian Academy to the 2013 McDonald’s All American Team. As promised, we’ve been closely monitoring Randle’s play since his return to the court in February, and it’s been an inspiring return to watch. Randle has not only proven that he is capable of competing at the highest level, but truly deserving of the title McDonald’s All American.

Randle marks the third player in the 36 year history of the McDonald’s All American Games to be added to the team, joining Derrick Whittenberg (1979) and Sam Perkins (1980).

We look forward to welcoming Julius Randle to Chicago for the 2013 McDonald’s All American Games, which will be played on April 3 at the United Center. Randle will suit up for the Boys East Team.”

Jordan Brand announced the complete East and West rosters for the 2013 Jordan Brand Classic today. Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, SLAM HS Diarists Andrew and Aaron Harrison and 18 more of the nation’s top prospects will be at the Barclays Center as the JBC heads to Brooklyn on April 13.

BROOKLYN (Feb. 12, 2013) – Today, Jordan Brand announced its star-filled roster for the 12th Annual Jordan Brand Classic, taking place on April 13 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Following in the footsteps of current Jordan athletes and former Jordan Brand Classic alumn Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and recently signed Blake Griffin, the next generation of superstar talent will take the floor in a nationally-televised game live on ESPN2.

The Jordan Brand Classic event will also include a Regional Game, showcasing the top prep players from the New York metropolitan area in a “City vs. Suburbs” showdown, and the sixth annual International Game featuring the top 16-and-under players from around the world.

The tripleheader will begin with the International Game at 3:30 PM followed by the Regional Game at 5:30 PM, and the All-American Game at 8:00 PM. The International and regional rosters will be announced at a later date.

“This year’s roster could be one of the most talented in the 12 years of the Jordan Brand Classic – even with an alumni list that has become the who’s who of basketball,” said Larry Miller, President of Jordan Brand. “The event will be an incredible showcase of talent reaching millions of people around the world through ESPN2 and in person at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.”

Tickets for the Jordan Brand Classic are now on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, online at BarclaysCenter.com and ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. For more information, visit the official web site, www.JordanBrandClassic.com or follow the JBC on Twitter @JordanClassic.

So much has changed since our last Class of 2013 rankings in early September of 2012. The top junior in America officially announced he was reclassifying to the senior class in Andrew Wiggins. So did another highly touted former 2014 class member, Noah Vonleh. Additionally, our No. 1-ranked senior in September, Julius Randle, fractured his foot at the very start of the season and isn’t expected to be back on the hardwood until sometime in March, at the earliest. In other words, Randle never got the chance to defend his top spot. Speaking of the defending the top spot, Jabari Parker, who lost the top slot after missing much of the offseason with a nagging heel injury, returned to the floor last month and has been steadily regaining his touch.

There are always a few new names that join the top-50 list for the very first time. For this mid-season ranking, aside from the aforementioned Wiggins and Vonleh, Dakari Johnson is also among the reclassified seniors who joins the list, and is ranked among the top-12 in his new class. Deontate Burton and Kendrick Nunn are the two other players who have made their top-50 debut. Kansas-bound Conner Frankamp, who is averaging 34 points per game, according to MaxPreps, is fourth among all seniors in the nation. It has become evident that Frankamp’s jumper is the real deal and he has therefore jumped up the rankings 11 spots. Other players who saw their names jump considerably up the ranks include Austin Nichols, Isaac Hamilton and Zakarie Irvin.

As expected, the early signing period officially took many of the players listed below off the recruiting market. On another random note, notice how compared to previous years, almost all seniors in the top 50 have already chosen a college—45 out of 50. We usually have a good 20-25 players who wait until the spring signing period before choosing a school, strategically preferring to wait and see who declares for the NBA Draft at the schools they are considering. For some weird reason, that was not the case with the Class of 2013. Out of the five remaining names, three are in the top 5.

Meanwhile, Kentucky will be welcoming one-third of the top dozen players in this list (as of now), and with the top three undecided players in the class in Wiggins, Randle and Aaron Gordon all still considering the Wildcats, Kentucky might not be done adding to what many have debated as the greatest incoming freshman class ever.

RANK

PLAYER

HEIGHT

POSITION

SCHOOL

COLLEGE

WHY?

1

Andrew Wiggins

6-8

SF

Huntington Prep (WV)

Undecided

Canada’s finest is averaging over 22 points and 11 rebounds, proving his tenacity and versatility on both ends of the floor.

2

Jabari Parker

6-8

SF

Simeon (IL)

Duke

Back from injury, Parker is slowly returning to his old self and reminding everyone why gained national notoriety.

3

Julius Randle

6-9

PF

Prestonwood (TX)

Undecided

When he attacks the rim, it’s wise to just get out of the way.

4

Andrew Harrison

6-5

PG

Travis (TX)

Kentucky

Complete point guard on both ends of the floor.

5

Aaron Gordon

6-7

PF

Archbishop Mitty (CA)

Undecided

Blake Griffin-type highlights reels when attacking the hole.

6

Aaron Harrison

6-5

SG

Travis (TX)

Kentucky

Andrew’s twin can score in every way imaginable.

7

Noah Vonleh

6-8

PF

New Hampton (NH)

Indiana

Nice touch around the rim and aggressive post moves in the paint.

8

Kasey Hill

6-0

PG

Montverde (FL)

Florida

A nice mix of Kyrie Irving and JWall.

9

Chris Walker

6-10

PF

Holmes County (FL)

Florida

Great athlete who loves playing above the rim.

10

James Young

6-6

SG

Rochester (MI)

Kentucky

Strong and explosive wing who can finish above the rim or from distance.

11

Anthony Barber

6-2

PG

Hampton (VA)

N.C. State

Highly crafty guard.

12

Dakari Johnson

6-10

C

Montverde (FL)

Kentucky

He still has lots of upside, which is scary for someone his size.

13

Jarrell Martin

6-7

PF

Madison Prep (LA)

LSU

Athletic forward who still has much upside.

14

Bobby Portis

6-9

PF

Hall (AR)

Arkansas

Although he gets his in the paint, he can step out and be a threat with range.

15

Isaiah Hicks

6-8

PF

Webb (NC)

North Carolina

His explosiveness makes him tough to stop in the lane.

16

Austin Nichols

6-8

PF

Briarcrest (TN)

Memphis

Post moves and mid-range jumpers in his repertoire.

17

Rondae Jefferson

6-6

SF

Chester (PA)

Arizona

Lefty forward who can also create for others.

18

Jermaine Lawrence

6-8

PF

Pope John XXIII (NJ)

Undecided

Multifaceted big man.

19

Isaac Hamilton

6-4

SG

St. John Bosco (CA)

UTEP

Shooter who also possesses some PG skills.

20

Wayne Selden

6-5

SF

Tilton (NH)

Kansas

Explosiveness, speed and hops.

21

Keith Frazier

6-5

SG

Kimball (TX)

Undecided

Good shooter with deep range.

22

Jabari Bird

6-6

SG

Salesian (CA)

California

Explosive wing with impressive finishes at the basket—and can shoot it too.

23

Marcus Lee

6-9

PF

Deer Valley (CA)

Kentucky

Stands out as a rebounder and shot-blocker.

24

Demetrius Jackson

6-1

PG

Marian (IN)

Notre Dame

The type of PG they will love at South Bend.

25

Xavier Rathan-Mayes

6-3

SG

Huntington Prep (WV)

Florida State

Also a Canada-native, Xavier can create room for his own shot or path to them rim.

26

Kuran Iverson

6-8

SF

Fishburne Military

Memphis

Very versatile scorer.

27

Zakarie Irvin

6-6

SF

Hamilton Southeastern (IN)

Michigan

Averaging over 25 points this season, he’s a wing who can sink it from distance, or put the ball on the floor and make his way to the rim.

28

Tyler Roberson

6-7

PF

Roselle (NJ)

Syracuse

Active defender who can score inside or out.

29

Brannen Greene

6-6

SG

Tift (GA)

Kansas

Great shooter who can also take it to the hole.

30

Tyler Ennis

6-2

PG

St. Benedict’s (NJ)

Syracuse

Canadian native who can create his own shot easily, as well as for others.

31

Conner Frankamp

6-0

PG

North (KS)

Kansas

As the intro mentions, he’s fourth in the nation in scoring among seniors, so yeah, he can really shoot—as you may have heard already.

32

Nick King

6-6

SF

East (TN)

Memphis

Lefty with nice multifaceted game.

33

Troy Williams

6-6

SF

Oak Hill (VA)

Indiana

Slick forward who uses his athleticism and explosiveness to his advantage.

34

Matt Jones

6-4

SG

DeSoto (TX)

Duke

He’s a shooter, and that’s all you need to remember.

35

Kennedy Meeks

6-9

C

West Charlotte (NC)

North Carolina

Nice touch in the paint.

36

Semi Ojeleye

6-6

SF

Ottowa (KS)

Duke

A tough and strong wing who has deep range.

37

Ishmail Wainright

6-6

SF

Montrose Christian (MD)

Baylor

Unselfish forward known for being a facilitator and great defender.

38

Beejay Anya

6-9

C

DeMatha (VA)

NC State

Has the tools to become a dominant big man.

39

Derrick Walton

6-0

PG

Chandler Park (MI)

Michigan

Your ideal savvy point guard with range. His 26 ppg demonstrate his scoring ability is just as well as his PG skills.

40

Jonathan Williams

6-8

PF

Southwind (TN)

Missouri

Forward who can handle the ball and make plays for teammates.

41

Aquille Carr

5-8

PG

Patterson (MD)

Seton Hall

The most exciting player to watch play in this class.

42

Roddy Peters

6-4

PG

Suitland (MD)

Maryland

After a breakout summer in 2012, Peters’ versatility is now well known.

43

Robert Hubbs

6-5

SG

Dyer County (TN)

Tennessee

High-flying, crowd-pleasing athlete.

44

Anton Gill

6-3

SG

Hargrave Military (NC)

Louisville

Versatile scorer who also takes care of business on the defensive end.

45

Jordan Mickey

6-7

SF/PF

Prime Prep (TX)

LSU

Can contribute differently every night: on the boards, the paint or from mid-range.

Tickets for the 2013 Jordan Brand Classic game officially went on sale this morning on Ticketmaster. This year’s All-American senior class is among the most highly touted ones in recent memory. Serving as the last high school game for top ranked seniors, its alumni list include LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose, Amar’e Stoudemire, Kyrie Irving and Dwight Howard. Last year, SLAM ran a story that relived the first decade of what has become one of the most celebrated basketball events of the year. Top rated players that are most likely to partake in this year’s national game include Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins and Julius Randle. The event is expected to be a hot ticket, so we suggest you don’t wait until the last minute to purchase them if you want to get good seats (or any seats at all!).

The 2013 Jordan Brand Classic will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the brand new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY–birth place of MJ. The triple header starts at 3:30 p.m. with the International Game, followed by the City vs. Suburbs Regional Game at 5:30 p.m., and then the National Game is expected to tip-off at 8:00 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $85. To commemorate the official ticket launch of the renowned All-Star game today, Jordan Brand Classic is giving away a couple pairs of Jordans this afternoon via the game’s official Twitter @JordanClassic.

Who will be the next star to emerge? History tells us the Jordan Brand Classic is where you will most likely see them shine first.

The nation’s top ranked power forward, Julius Randle, is expected to be away from the basketball court for at least the next three months, meaning he will most likely miss the entire regular season and some playoff action. The highly touted recruit fractured his right foot during the first-half of Saturday’s game against Duncaville. He is expected to have surgery tomorrow afternoon. We wish him a speedy recovery! From the USA Today: “Julius Randle will be sidelined for the next three months with a fractured right foot, according to his mother Carolyn Kyles. Randle, a senior forward at Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) and a preseason American Family Insurance ALL-USA selection, suffered the injury in the first half of the Lions’ game against Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest on Nov. 24. Prestonwood, which is ranked No. 14 in the Super 25, was up 10 when Randle left with the injury. They ended up falling 58-48. Randle, who is ranked No. 2 in the Rivals150, will undergo surgery Tuesday afternoon. “It’s a minor setback, but Julius is a fighter,” Kyles said. “We’ve already begun to set up rehabilitation for him and he’s a naturally a little down now, but he’ll be back before you know it. We’re just staying positive about everything. We know he’ll come back stronger than ever.” It’s the second major injury the Lions have faced this season. Forward Mickey Mitchell, a consensus top five player in the 2015 class, suffered a torn ACL on Nov. 2 while playing quarterback on the Lions’ football team and is expected to miss the entire season. Randle, who will decide between Kentucky, N.C. State, Florida, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma, could “potentially” return toward the end of the season, depending on whether the Lions make the playoffs, according to Randle’s godfather Jeff Webster. “He’ll be ready for the postseason all-star games if not sooner,” Webster said. “It’s all a part of the game. These things happen. Now the hard work begins, and it’s a challenge for him. The doctor says three months, but he’s the type of player that will work hard to be ready before that. We’re not rushing anything, but we’ve got work to do.”

Julius Randle is on the phone recalling his recent trip to Gainesville, FL, where Billy Donovan and the UF Gators were the second of five programs to host an official visit from a guy many consider the best player in the Class of 2013. “Coach D was telling me, ‘I think our style and our system really fit you, but I’ve never had a player quite like you,’” Randle says. “I used to compare myself to other players, but I do think I have my own unique style.”

It’s a bold statement for any player, even one as good as Randle, a 6-9, 240-pound forward from Prestonwood Christian Academy just outside Dallas, who is a consensus top-three player in his class. A versatile lefty with post moves, range and athleticism—and a motor that maximizes all three—he is indeed hard to pigeonhole with an easy comparison. True as that may be, Donovan’s quote also reminds us that coaches will tell undecided, top-three prospects pretty much anything. This is a courtship, after all, something Randle and his mother, Carolyn Kyles, fully understand.

“With these coaches, it’s like we’re dating right now,” she says. “So everything is wonderful.”

Six head coaches/programs have managed to catch and hold Randle’s attention: Florida, NC State, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas. Whoever wins his commitment will be blessed with a kid whose poise and perspective are rare at the prep level. Ask Randle his strengths?

“Leadership and versatility,” he says.

The skills matter, of course, and Randle isn’t lacking. Backing in or facing up, on the drive or the break, he’s comfortable with the ball anywhere on the court. Not that he’s settling. “I’m working on my spot-up shooting, off-the-dribble shooting, working 15 feet and in, elbows, mid-post, stuff where they can’t really double team me,” he says. “Because I get that a lot.”

There’s your versatility. As for leadership, the self-assured Randle says he takes after his mom. “She’s always been outspoken, never shy to share her ideas,” he says. “I think that’s just been something that’s carried on to me.”

Theirs is a symbiotic relationship, especially as they’ve immersed themselves in the unforgiving crush of attention that is big-time recruiting. “He’s taken the lead on it,” Carolyn says. “He keeps me grounded and patient. For almost a year, maybe more, I would approach him, maybe say something about a certain school. He’d say, ‘Mom, just relax, just enjoy this journey with me. When it’s time to get serious, I’ll let you know.’”

They’ve hit that point now, although Randle insists he’s not in a hurry to make his college choice. Many of his peers understandably have already announced, leaving them free to play their senior year without the distraction of a drawn-out recruiting process. Randle sees it less as drawing things out than simply being thorough: “I get to see what teams will have coming back for next year, what they’ve done this season and what will be the best fit for me.”

With the ’14 Final Four set for Dallas, Randle has all the more motivation to pick a school that allows him to chase his dream scenario: one-and-done, National Championship in his backyard and a David Stern handshake. “Whose dream wouldn’t that be?” he asks. “I’m just going to try to work my hardest and see where it takes me.”

After breaking down the top HS seniors, juniors and sophomores throughout the country earlier this month in our annual pre-season rankings, it’s only right that we follow up with a galleries showcasing the top-10 players for the each of the classes 2013, 2014 and 2015. As you’ll see above, many of these rising stars are athletically gifted, with college or even pro-ready physiques. This senior class features many high flyers, including Julius Randle, Aaron Gordon, Kasey Hill and Chris Walker. Most importantly, they’re all one season away from joining the nation’s top collegiate programs and taking over March Madness… and eventually the League, for some. In the meantime, you can read all about these guys in our monthly print issues or on SLAMonline.com. It also wouldn’t be a bad idea to catch a live game now before it gets really expensive to watch them play!

BallisLife had the camera focused on Julius Randle at all times this summer. And after he finished annihilating the AAU circuit, Julius, by most accounts, has reclaimed his spot on top of the ’13 Rankings. His summer mixtape will prove why.

The Under Armour Elite 24 Game went down yesterday in sunny Southern California, a tilt in which prospects Aaron Gordon and Julius Randle showed the world (or at least the ESPN audience) what they’re capable of by leading their Brandon Jennings-coached squad to a 164-138 victory. Read a more detailed recap here and roll through the gallery above for some photos of the Venice Beach event.

The on-court template for high school All-Star Games has long been established: flashy passes, crossover dribbles, copious alley-oops and minimal defense. What sets the Under Armour Elite 24 Game apart from its fellow dunkfests is the atmosphere.

This is streetball, baby. Played on a spectacular sun-splashed afternoon in Southern California, today’s game was played on the famous courts of Venice Beach, with announcers Bobbito Garcia and Joe Pope “calling” the action—by cajoling, encouraging, nicknaming and teasing the players, coaches and referees.

What the announcers were charged with today was to keep the game from turning into a non-stop fastbreak. And they did. With constant reminders to the kids to get back on defense and playful threats to have them pulled from the game, Kool Bob Love and Pope made it clear to this collection of future college (and in many cases, NBA) stars that they were being watched.

Ultimately, the 164-138 win for the Brandon Jennings-coached Raymond Lewis Squad over the Kyrie Irving-coached Marques Johnson Squad did turn into a giant fastbreak, but not till the last five minutes—and that was the fault of whoever drafted the teams, not the game’s format.

In a game filled with big forwards who could handle, block shots and dunk, the two best were San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty’s Aaron Gordon and Plano (TX) Prestonwood Christian’s Julius Randle. And they were on the same team!

“We were a little stacked,” the 6-7-but-seems-taller Gordon said sheepishly after notching 25 points, a team-high 7 rebounds and one of the four awesome surfboard-inspired MVP trophies Under Armour handed out after the game. “I was originally going to be on the other team but then they put me on this one. It was fun.”

Fun definitely seemed to be the mission for Gordon, who attempted all manner of dunk contest-worthy dunks, and punctuated the made ones with loud screams. “I might have done a little extra because this was an All-Star Game, but I always like to bring entertainment to the game,” he said.

The 6-9 Randle, the actual winner of Friday afternoon’s dunk contest, was also an MVP, scoring a game-high 27 points. “The ManChild” showed some nifty dribble moves and was another player that seemed to be having an absolute blast. “My whole weekend has been very fun,” Randle said. “The Dunk Contest, the game, and the way they do it with the announcers, and outside…it just makes it relaxing.”

Having the better team is relaxing, too; The Raymond Lewis Squad also featured twins Aaron and Andrew Harrison from Richmond (TX) Travis, who you should know from this year’s SLAM Diary. Aaron was the third Raymond Lewis team member to cop a MVP trophy, well-earned after an explosive 25-point performance on 11-14 shooting from the field.

For the Marques Johnson Team, which obviously didn’t have Gordon or Randle and was also without highly touted Canadian prospect Andrew Wiggins, who was originally on the roster but wasn’t able to attend the weekend, it was an uphill battle from the start. To make matters even worse, Johnson Squad member Keith Frazier from Dallas (TX) Kimball sprained his ankle early in the game. He came back a bit in the second half but still played a game-low 12 minutes.

Short-handed and down 75-65 at the half, the Marques Johnson Squad kept things within reach for awhile behind effort, an emotional bench (assisting Kyrie were UA endorsers Will Barton, DeAndre Jordan and Derrick Williams, all of whom waved towels throughout) and the play of their own well-built slashers.

The one Johnson Squad member to get a MVP surfboard was 6-5 Justise Winslow, a junior (remember, the Elite Game is technically open to all classes, though there were only three non-seniors this year) from Houston (TX) St. John’s who got in the lane repeatedly for 21 points on 10-11 shooting.

Winslow’s Elite teammate, Jabari Bird of Richmond (CA) Salesian, stood out as well. A 6-6 wing who had announcer Pope caw-caaawing like a bird every time he touched the rock, Bird dropped in 20 points and handed out 3 assists.

But regardless of Winslow and Bird’s ability to get into the paint, they’re still wingmen in a game that was dominated by the beastly forwards from the Raymond Lewis Squad, Gordon and Randle.

And if those two didn’t own the game because of their size and skill, maybe it’s because they just had the most fun.

“This is the best event of the summer,” Randle said as the sun set on a great afternoon and, really, the entire summer season.

A 6-0, 155-pound guard with a silly stroke, Frankamp won the Under Armour Elite 24 three-point shootout with ease, entertaining the crowd with his smooth release and consecutive makes, edging out Rashad Vaughn.

“It felt good today,” Frankamp said with a massive smile. “It was fun out here and with this great setting it was a good time.”

The North High School (Wichita, KS) rising senior said he has a daily shooting routine that consists of 300-400 makes. “It’s all different types of shots, not just threes,” he explained. “I can usually get done pretty quick, about 30 minutes.”

Frankamp will not be straying too far from home for college—he has committed to KU. “It was always my dream to go to Kansas I guess you can say,” he said. “I can’t wait to get there. Kirk Hinrich is probably my favorite player to come through KU, he was sweet.”

Julius Randle, a rising senior from Prestonwood Christian in Plano, TX, followed up Frankamp’s performance with two perfect scores in the dunk contest, including a nasty behind-the-back left-handed jam for the crown. Randle defeated Jamar Ergas in the finals. The 6-9, 225-pound elite prospect said he’s having a blast in Cali.

“Just bonding with the other great players in your class is fun to do,” he said.

The most physically imposing player at the Elite 24 said he saved a few dunks for Saturday’s game. “Oh yeah, I still got some other stuff,” Randle promised.

For the past six years, the last weekend of August has marked a very special time for prep hoop fans around. The Elite 24, an all-star game that brings together 24 of the top players in the country regardless of class, has given fans, college coaches, and scouts an opportunity to watch who we could look forward to hearing their named called in the NBA Draft just two years later.

Who could ever forget the inaugural game in 2006 that eventually ended up being the feature of the documentary Gunnin ‘for that #1 spot? (That year the game was held September 1st though).

Every single player featured in that film is now in the NBA. EVERY.

In this past June’s NBA Draft, nine former Elite 24 participants were selected in the first round alone, including 3rd pick Brad Beal and 4th pick Dion Waiters. In total, twelve former Elite 24 players were selected in the 2012 NBA Draft, after counting second round Draft picks Quincy Miller, Will Barton and Doron Lamb. Ten of the players selected in the 2012 Draft played in the 2009 Elite 24 game in New York. Last year? Eight former participants heard their name called in the first round, including the No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving. Overall, 44 players have been drafted to the NBA from the six Elite 24 games that have been played so far.

The title of the documentary Gunnin’ for the #1 Spot is actually the best way to put the game’s importance in a nutshell—from a player’s perspective, at least. See, although none of the youngsters playing in Saturday’s night game will probably admit it (except for maybe a handful), the players partaking know exactly what they are playing for—the rights to earn the #1 spot in the rankings, in the eye of the public, scouts, media, and everyone else who cares.

It means something to them. If you are an athlete then you’re a competitor, and if you’re a competitor then you are always looking to be on top. To say you’re the best, the top ranked player in the country means a lot to these young athletes.

“In basketball, it’s definitely about being the best, showing and proving it,” says Mike Parker, Director of Brand Marketing at Under Armour. “I think these kids are no different. They all have something to prove. Whether it is establishing a reputation, or what have you, I think that’s just the competitor nature. No ones wants to be showed up and everyone wants to leave with their names intact.”

And although, the majority of them have played against each other in the AAU circuit throughout the years, it is only in a single game like this that you can have the best players regardless of class go at it against each other without having to hope that the brackets come through in a way that allows for individual matchups to happen. At the Elite 24, each is the best from their respective state. In addition, for the players participating, the festivities surrounding the game also separate this event from the rest.

For example, last night the invited players got a chance to play against NBA players in a midnight run. Julius Randle, along with Andrew and Aaron Harrison, Emmanuel Mudiay and Isaac Hamilton started against an NBA starting five composed of James Harden, Brandon Jennings, DeMar Derozan, Will Barton and Austin Nichols. The Elite 24 players would eventually be subbed in for another five invitees after. What other all-star game do HS players get a chance to play full court against a team composed of NBA guys?

This summer sparked some debate as to who’s really the #1 HS player in the country. There are those who stick with Chicago’s Jabari Parker. Then there are those who argue for the explosive Julius Randle from Texas. And there are those who side with junior sensation (although rumors are that he could be reclassifying to the 2013 class very soon, with the start of classes looming) Andrew Wiggins—a Toronto, Canada native who attends Huntington Prep in West Virginia.

Andrew Wiggins has wasted little time in letting the world know that he believes he’s the best player in the nation. At the Peach Jam in South Augusta, S.C., Wiggins got the opportunity to go at it against Randle. Wiggins finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds, while Randle tabbed in 15 points and 13 rebounds. Wiggins also got the W. Afterward, he was quoted by multiple media outlets as saying “Everyone has different opinions. If they think I’m better, then that’s their opinion. I think I’m the best”…. “I’ll put myself in front of everyone.” Lets not forget that Wiggins led the World Team past Shabazz Muhammad and Team USA at Nike Hoop Summit in April.

So with Jabari Parker having missed most of the summer circuit due to a foot injury, is he still the best player in the nation? What about if Wiggins ends up reclassifying to the 2013 class like it has been speculated for some time?

As for Randle, we’re pretty sure he remembers what happened last time he and Wiggins were on court together. So this time around, (although the 24 players have been revealed, the specific team rosters have not, and so we don’t know if Randle and Wiggins will be playing together in the same team or against each other; but we do know we would love to see them go at it once again) we can expect him to want to prove his case and outshine the rest of his peers this Saturday.

But for Under Armour, the reason for wanting to be part of this event isn’t to find the top player, but to help the top players find the type of training they’ll need in order to succeed at the next level. The same type of challenging and rigorous training that has made the Baltimore-based company quite known for in the gridiron. “We are part of this because we want to help guys get better and make their journey as easy as possible through the training, and the different things we bring to the table to these athletes,” adds Parker. Players will be participating in a Grind Sessions workout, where they will partake in an intense curriculum that’s incorporated to maximize each player’s potential and mimic an NBA player’s workout.

Aside from the aforementioned studs, the game will feature Andrew Harrison, who’s without question the best point guard in the nation. Think strength, speed, high basketball IQ, and triple-threat—that’s what you get from Harrison. I’ve literally seen him take three people with him to the hole. Staying on the point guard topic, the top point guard in the 2014 class, Tyus Jones, will also be playing this year. If only Jones and Harrison could be on opposite teams, that would be another great match-up to look out for. Another highly touted point guard is North Carolina-bound Nate Britt. In addition, the top shooting guard in the country, and twin brother of Andrew, Aaron will be in attendance.

This year’s participants will be donning brand new gear featuring newly launched Elite 24 edition colorways. The first photo above shows the white uniforms that participants of Friday night’s Skillz Challenge (3-point contest and dunk contest) will be wearing. As for the kicks, the fresh custom red Micro G Torches will be on sale at UA.com and Eastbay beginning today (Thursday, August 23) for $89.99. The second photo shows the technologically enhanced game day gear that the Elite 24 participants will be suiting up with. According to Under Armour, “the next-to-skin fit creates less drag, allowing athletes to move up and down the court with greater speed and the mesh back panel keeps athletes cool and dry in the Venice Beach heat!” As for the kicks in this photo, the reflective launches August 24 while the Poison/Black will be available on August 25.

Under Armour was initially involved with the Elite 24 festivities by helping train participants with its famously rigorous workout sessions. Then UA proceeded to outfit each player with custom-made uniforms and exclusive sneakers. Now they play an even bigger role. “I think we have kind of grown with the event and were integrated in different areas,” says Parker. “And now this year, for the first time, we’re the title sponsor. It’s kind of a natural progression, we’ve grown with it through the seven years. ”

Now with the title change, Under Armour finds itself having an even larger impact at the grassroots level.

“We want to show what Under Armour is all about,” says Parker. “The training component is going to be an important piece. The was program has been done very well by ESPN and we’re just kind of fitting right in, and adding our angle and our voice to this game. We’re going to have a customized t-shirt station out there that we’ll have set up. Also, a museum area that will show folks some of the current products, as well as upcoming stuff. People will get a chance to know who we are as a brand a little bit more.”

And although the game has shifted scenes from the famous streeball cathedral of Rucker Park in Harlem, NY to the beachside courts of Venice Beach in Los Angeles over the years, the intensity on the court has remained the same.

“It’s still outdoors. It’s still raw. It’s still gritty. And it’s still very fun.”

Check out the Elite 24 slam dunk contest live on ESPNU on Friday at 7 p.m. EST, and then the game live on ESPNU on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST.

The first 12 players selected to participate in the seventh annual Under Armour Elite 24 event have been announced.

Featuring 24 of the top high school basketball players from across the nation, the Under Armour Elite 24 participants are selected based on their performance during AAU tournaments and national summer camps by ESPN high school basketball experts.

The 2012 Under Armour Elite 24 will be held at the Venice Beach Courts in Los Angeles August 24-25. The game airs live on ESPNU at 7 p.m. ET August 25, while the slam dunk contest will air August 24 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

Forward and 2011 event alum Julius Randle, ranked No. 2 in the ESPN 100, headlines the list along with first-time participant Andrew Wiggins, ranked No. 1 in the ESPN 60. Randle, of Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, TX) and the Team Texas Titans AAU program, is a top ’12-13 National Player of the Year candidate. Wiggins, who played at Huntington Prep (Huntington, WV) last season and recently led CIA Bounce to the Nike Peach Jam finals, is a native of Canada.

Other event veterans include Nate Britt II, who participates in AAU ball with the DC Assault and will spend his senior season at Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA); twin brothers Andrew and Aaron Harrison of Travis (Richmond, TX) and the Houston Defenders AAU club; and Aquille Carr, who preps at Patterson (Baltimore, MD) and was a standout this summer for B’more Finest.

Britt had 6 points and 2 steals for the victorious Marques Johnson club last year. The Harrison twins combined for 22 points and 8 assists for Marques Johnson, while Carr was co-MVP for the Raymond Lewis club with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and an event-record 4 steals.

The second dozen players, roster of teams and dunk contest participants will be announced in early August.

The format for this year’s AAU Super Showcase and Nationals features structural bracket changes from previous ones. The winner for the Super Showcase’s gold division (the bracket that features the top AAU teams and mostly top ranked players) receives an automatic bid to the AAU 11th grade Division I final four, where they would go up against the three other finalists from the Nationals Division I bracket, a division that also features talented players but not necessarily the cream of the crop as the Super Showcase Gold bracket does.

With Jabari Parker out nursing an injury and Andrew Wiggins not partaking in any events during this final recruiting live period, Julius Randle and the Harrison twins are the most highly touted players that are currently playing in grassroots basketball right now—and they all happen to be in Orlando this week.

Houston Defenders (4-0)

The Harrison-twins opened up the event against the Boo Williams Summer League team, which features nationally ranked Anthony Barber, Allerik Freeman and Troy Williams. The Harrison twins brought their A-game, with Andrew playing terrific defense and using his quick hands for deflections and flicks, generating steals or forcing turnovers with his suffocating on-ball defense while showcasing his court vision, passing skills and overall great point guard attributes, while Aaron once again proved that scoring just comes naturally to him. He was sinking shots from distance and breaking down the defense on his way to the rim. But it was Texas A&M-commit Derrick Griffin that stole the show with his freakish athleticism and highlight reel dunks. Griffin, a 6-6 small forward who actually committed to Texas A&M for football but is expected to play basketball as well, did a great job getting down the floor and positioning for high-percentage field goals. It also didn’t hurt that he happens to be playing with the top point guard in the country in Andrew Harrison. Andrew lobbed at least three alley-oops to Griffin, with the last one being a reverse dunk finish for the future Aggie. Aaron also threw one up in the air for Griffin to hammer down. In all, Griffin finished with seven dunks—five in the first half alone. Griffin and Aaron both finished with 21 points each, while Andrew was tallied up for four points, but although there wasn’t an official stat kept for assists at the scorer’s table, he must have reached double-digits in dimes being that I counted about six just between him and Griffin alone.

Texas Titans (4-1)

The Texas Titans, who feature the second ranked player in the nation, Julius Randle, along with sharp-shooter Matt Jones, and center standout Damian Jones, haven’t really been as dominant as they would like but have still managed to take care of business thus far. The Titans opened up against Each 1 Teach 1 Elite, which features Florida’s top point guard Joel Berry, along with Christopher Perry and Dakari Johnson (who is still out with a knee injury). Randle was doubled and even tripled-team at times when driving towards the paint. He was really taking a beating (or a “full-body massage” as one college coach described it) and was getting to the free throw line often. Although his shot wasn’t falling in this night, we did witness the amount of ferocious strength he possesses, as on numerous occasions he hit shots in the paint with two or three guys on him, while drawing the foul and getting to the line for a three-point play. Dare I say that every time he drives to the hole, his explosiveness and power resembles LeBron James? Cause it certainly does. Plus, he can handle the rock at the perimeter and put the ball on the floor with a variety of moves to shake defenders off him. Matt Jones, on the other hand, continued to showcase his smooth shooting touch.

On Saturday afternoon, a great Texas-rival match-up will take place when the Houston Defenders and the Texas Titans clash in the second round of the Super Showcase Gold division playoff bracket.

E1T1 Elite (4-0)

Joel Berry stole the spotlight from Randle, when they faced off with his stupendous play. He is a very smart point guard that always keeps defenders on their toes. Berry was a great floor general and made the right passes at the right time. When no one is open he has little trouble creating shots for himself—whether it’s putting the ball on the floor and making room for a shot or penetrating the defense on his way to the rim. Berry finished that game with 15 points and in control from start, as E1T1 cruised to a 72-53 win.

Georgia Stars (4-1)

Tadric Jackson quickly became one of my favorite players to watch with his savvy style of play. The first game I saw him play was against the Albany City Rocks. On the open floor, Jackson knows how to find the open man and thread the needle. He did a great job with his timely bounce passes to cutters and recognizing open teammates on the weak side of the floor. He elevates off the ground in a hurry and has range well beyond the perimeter. Only a rising junior, Jackson has upside. Jackson’s teammate and also a member of the 2014 class, Jalen Lindsey demonstrated a knack for setting up and letting it go from behind the perimeter.

Jarquez Smith, a senior, was really doing his thing when the GA Stars played the Baltimore Stars. He demonstrated some nice post moves, as well as a shooting stroke. He had three blocks in a matter of minutes, with impressively timed jumps. Overall, Smith showed great versatility in his repertoire. Delano Spencer, was another who demonstrated a knack for scoring—whether it was from distance or getting to the rack.

With the last segment in the live recruiting period starting today and running until Sunday, college coaches will flock to major tournaments in Orlando and Las Vegas over the next few days to get one last look at some of the top talent in America. But with news that top ranked player Jabari Parker will be missing the rest of the live recruiting period as a result of a fractured right foot, will he still be holding the throne when it’s all done? Over the last few days, there’s been some debate on what effect this injury will have on the rankings. Julius Randle and Andrew Wiggins (a junior), two of the players that have been trailing Parker for the top spot in the rankings, will be playing this week and had great outings at the Nike Peach Jam last week. Parker’s father has made it clear that his son doesn’t care about where lands on the rankings, and with all the pressure that has been amounted on him, he probably shouldn’t.

Here is a highlight mix from the 2012 LeBron James Skills Academy. Several of the nation’s top recruits are featured, including Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, Kasey Hill, Chris Walker, Wayne Seldon and many more.

Andrew Wiggins and Julius Randle faced off and actually guarded each other at the 2012 LeBron James Skills Academy. Both players had good games and played equally well; Wiggins got the better of Randle in head-to-head situations but Randle had a more complete game, getting teammates involved and making plays. Peep some footage of the heated matchup above.

Leading by just six at halftime of the FIBA Americas U18 Championship gold medal game, the USA stepped up its defense in the second half to break open its game with Brazil and record an 81-56 victory and the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

USA 6-8 forward Julius Randle (Prestonwood Christian Academy/McKinney, Texas), who still has his senior high school season ahead of him, helped pave the way to the win posting a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds. Jarnell Stokes (University of Tennessee/Memphis, Tenn.) contributed 11 points and four rebounds, and Marcus Smart (Marcus H.S./Flower Mound, Texas) was credited with 10 points, three rebounds, four assists and a game high six steals.

The USA, which averaged 97.2 points a game during the championship while winning its five contests by an average of 38.6 points a game, received scoring from 11 of its 12 players.

“I though in the first half they went zone and we got a little stagnant and we turned the ball over way too much. We had some opportunities on some fast breaks that we got nothing out of. The one thing we were fortunate in the first half was they were 9-for-19 from the foul line.,” stated USA and University of Florida head coach Billy Donovan.

“I thought in the second half we got up and down the floor, we were pushing it more; more up tempo, we attacked the basket; we attacked the paint; and I thought our defense was really, really good in the second half. We took away 3-pointers and easy baskets, and that enabled us to get out on the fast break.”

Having put an 83-64 whipping on Brazil just two days early during the two teams’ final preliminary round game, Brazil, behind another near capacity crowd, refused to let the USA pull away in the first half. Tied 7-7 with 6:02 to play in the first quarter, five different U.S. players contributed points in a 11-2 run that saw the USA lead increase to 18-9 with 2:41 left in the opening period.

Brazil pulled to within five, 18-13, but James Robinson (DeMatha Catholic H.S./Mitchellville, Md.) drove down the middle twice for layups, and Rasheed Sulaimon (Strake Jesuit College Prep/Houston, Texas) converted a steal into a layup in the quarter’s final seconds to push the U.S. advantage to 24-16 after one quarter of action.

The USA pushed its lead to 12 points, 31-19, following a Smart 3-pointer. But Brazil, playing to its vocal crowd, regrouped and reeled off seven straight points to reduce the deficit to 31-26.

Brazil continued to close in and with 36 seconds remaining before halftime, the South Americans had cut the gap to 35-31 after Lucas Rosa Faria connected on a 3-pointer. The U.S. retired to the locker room at halftime leading 37-31 after Shaq Goodwin (Southwest DeKalb H.S./Decatur, Ga.) netted two off an offensive rebound with 12 seconds remaining before halftime.

The score could have been very different if the host country hadn’t shot itself in the foot by sinking just 9-of-19 free throws. Brazil also worked to a 22-13 advantage on the glass.
With the gold medal still in limbo, the Americans opened the third quarter with inspired defense, while kicking its offense up a notch or two.

Randle, who would account for 14 of his game high 18 points and 11 of his 12 rebounds in the second half, got the USA off to good start with a jumper that upped the USA lead to 39-31.
Ahead 42-34, Randle contributed five points as the USA exploded for a 10-0 scoring run as its lead quickly ballooned to 52-34. And it could have been even worse for Brazil as the United States’ shooting from the free throw line went cold resulting in a 3-for-8 free throw shooting performance during the game clinching run.

“I just wanted to lock in and bring energy to the team, bring leadership to the team, and in the second half I just really wanted to focus in and be aggressive on both ends and on the defensive and offensive glass,” said Randle.

“Julius made some really, really big plays; athletic plays around the basket. He really stepped up and I thought he played exceptionally well yesterday against Argentina, then to come back and follow it up was terrific,” Donovan said.

Brazil got within 14 points late in the third, 54-40, but Sam Dekker (Sheboygan Lutheran H.S./ Sheboygan, Wis.) hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter’s final minute and added a baseline drive for two early in the fourth quarter, as the USA scored seven straight points to grab a 20-point lead and end all suspense about who would leave the arena wearing the gold medal.

“I told our guys after that they’re the ones that made it all possible. There was a lot of sacrifice. We had a lot of good players and I think they all understood that they all could probably score more, they all could probably do more, but maybe it wouldn’t be the best thing for our team. I was just really proud of the way they sacrificed for one another, they sacrificed for our country and they really wanted to win,” stated Donovan.

The USA’s winning of the gold medal is the nation’s sixth FIBA Americas U18 gold medal in eight championships, and the U.S.is now 43-2 all-time in the U18 zone championship.
In the final day’s other games, the U.S. Virgin Islands (2-3) beat Colombia (1-4) 77-52 for capture seventh place; Mexico (2-3) earned fifth place after recording a narrow 75-73 win against Puerto Rico (1-4); and in the bronze medal game, Canada (4-1) just slipped past Argentina (2-3) 68-66.

The top finishers from the U18 championship – USA, Brazil, Canada and Argentina- each earned an invite to the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship.

Serving as USA assistant coaches were Gonzaga University head coach Mark Few and Shaka Smart from Virginia Commonwealth University.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 9, 2012) – The 12-man USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team was announced Saturday night following the team’s ninth practice since June 5. Featuring some of the nation’s top 18-year-old and younger players, the USA team will compete in the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, which will be played June 16-20 in Sao Sebastiáo do Paraiso, Brazil. The U.S. team will continue to train through June 11 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and will depart June 12 for Brazil. Players eligible for this competition must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1994.

The 2012 USA U18 National Team is being led by a trio of experienced and successful college coaches, including USA head coach Billy Donovan of the University of Florida). Assisting Donovan along the sidelines are Gonzaga head coach Mark Few and Shaka Smart from Virginia Commonwealth.

“I think we’ve got some balance, we’ve got some versatility, we can move guys to some different positions. This has been a group that has picked up things pretty well so far so I’m excited about it,” said Donovan. “The thing I’ve been most impressed with since we started is just their attitudes. It seems like we’ve got really good chemistry, they get along real well, they seem to be a cohesive group.

“I think we have to play up tempo; we have to offensive rebound; and I think the other thing for our team that we have to get better at is taking care of the basketball. I think when you’ve got a lot of players that are thrown together and are now starting to play, they don’t really know each other.

“But I definitely think rebounding and transition are going to be important keys, and I also think defensively how well we can guard the 3-point line,” added Donovan.

Included on the official U.S. team roster is rising University of Tennessee sophomore Stokes, who is the lone collegian named to the team. Graduating high school seniors Robinson and Sulaimon boast of the only prior USA Basketball experience having suited up for the USA in April at the 15th annual Nike Hoop Summit.

In addition to rising college sophomore Stokes, who listed on the 2011-12 Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team, Smart (Texas) took home his second-consecutive Gatorade State Player of the Year honor in 2012; while Dekker (Wis.) and Purvis (N.C.) were named their state’s 2012 Gatorade State Player of the Year; and Britt (D.C.) earned the honor in 2011.

2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship For Men

Eight teams will compete in the 2012 U18 Americas zone qualifier, including the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. The top four finishing teams in the tournament will qualify for next summer’s 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship.

The USA will open play against U.S. Virgin Islands on June 16 (1 p.m. EDT), followed by Mexico on June 17 (1 p.m. EDT) and Brazil on June 18 (5 p.m. EDT). The top two teams from Group A and Group B will advance to play for 1st-4th place, while the No. 3 and No. 4 ranked teams play out for 5th-8th place. The semifinals will be played on June 19, and the gold medal game will be contested on June 20.

In the hunt for a sixth gold medal, USA men’s teams are 38-2 overall in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship (formerly known as the Junior World Championship Qualifier), and have won gold in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010, silver in 2008 and bronze in 2002.

The USA is the reigning champion from the 2010 U18 tournament, when Quincy Miller (Baylor) hit a game winning 3-pointer to help down Brazil, 81-78. The USA brought home silver in 2008 after falling to host Argentina despite a tournament MVP performance by Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats).

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men’s and women’s basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.

Since 2008, USA Basketball men’s and women’s teams have compiled a sterling 134-6 win-loss record in FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions. USA teams are the current men’s and women’s champions of the Olympics and FIBA World Championship; FIBA women’s U19 world champions; the men’s and women’s title holders for the FIBA U17 World Championship; and the men’s and women’s U18 and U16 FIBA Americas champions. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA’s world ranking categories, including combined, men’s, women’s, boys and girls.

Explosive, 6-9 lefties who can put the ball on the floor don’t exactly grow on tress, which is why last year, we had Julius Randle (from Prestonwood, TX) ranked as the second best junior in the country. (SLAM All-American Jabari Parker was No. 1.) But don’t take our word for it. Check out this video from BallisLife, and judge for yourself.

Dallas native and rising senior Julius Randle has some serious game. At 6-9 he has the ability to bang down low and play on the perimeter and has already picked up offers from Baylor, Kansas, Missouri and Ohio State among others. In the Ballislife mix above, Randle shows every facet of his game and features highlights against current SLAM All-Americans Shabazz Muhammad and Isaiah Austin.

Twenty-four players have accepted invitations to attend the 2012 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team Training camp June 5-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., including one player with college experience and three players who represented the USA in the 2012 Nike Hoop Summit. The USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team committee issued the player invitations.

The 2012 USA U18 National Team will be led by a trio of experienced and successful college coaches at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, including Billy Donovan (University of Florida) as head coach, with Mark Few (Gonzaga University) and Shaka Smart (Virginia Commonwealth University) as assistant coaches.

“It will be important to learn to play together as a team in a short amount of time,” Donovan said. “We need to demonstrate great focus and teamwork and bring a high level of energy and effort every day in order to have success both in training camp and throughout the competition.”

Following the first three or four days of training camp from June 5-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., finalist for the team will be selected by the USA Men’s Junior National Team Committee and will continue to train at the USOTC.

“We have a very talented group of young players that will have a great chance of bringing home a gold medal in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship,” said Jim Boeheim, Syracuse University and Hall of Fame coach and chair of the USA Junior National Team Committee. “As is the case each year, our USA Team will be up against the best players in their age group in the world. They will face great competition from the other participating countries.”

The official, 12-member 2012 USA Men’s U18 National Team will be selected prior to the team’s departure for the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, which will be played June 16-20 in Sao Sebastiáo do Paraiso, Brazil. Players eligible for this competition must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1994.

The players represent 15 states, including five from Texas; three from Maryland; two from California, Georgia and North Carolina; along with one player each from Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

In addition to rising college sophomore Stokes, who listed on the 2011-12 Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team, the training camp roster includes 17 high school seniors set to graduate in 2012 and six prep athletes from the Class of 2013.

One set of twins, Aaron and Andrew Harrison, play together at Travis High School (Texas), while Grant and Robinson both attend DeMatha Catholic High School (Maryland).

Smart (Texas) took home his second-consecutive Gatorade State Player of the Year honor in 2012; while Dekker (Wis.), Dunn (Conn.), Harris (Ind.) and Purvis (N.C.) were named their state’s 2012 Gatorade State Player of the Year; and Britt (D.C.) earned the honor in 2011.

Playing in the McDonald’s All-America Game was 3-point shootout champion Sulaimon, along with Dunn, Harris, Pollard, Purvis and Smart. The Jordan Brand Classic featured Dunn, Grant, Harris, Purvis and Sulaimon.

Eight teams will compete in the 2012 U18 zone qualifier, including the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. The top four finishing teams in the tournament will qualify for next summer’s 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship.

In addition to chair Boeheim, the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee includes NCAA appointees Lorenzo Romar (University of Washington), Bruce Weber (Kansas State University) and Roy Williams (University of North Carolina), as well as athlete representative Jay Williams (2002 USA World Championship Team).

About USA Basketball

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men’s and women’s basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.

Since 2008, USA Basketball men’s and women’s teams have compiled a sterling 134-6 win-loss record in FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions. USA teams are the current men’s and women’s champions of the Olympics and FIBA World Championship; FIBA women’s U19 world champions; the men’s and women’s title holders for the FIBA U17 World Championship; and the men’s and women’s U18 and U16 FIBA Americas champions. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA’s world ranking categories, including combined, men’s, women’s, boys and girls.

SLAM HS Diary keeper Shabazz Muhammad (’12) and Bishop Gorman took on Julius Randle (’13) and Prestonwood Christian at the 2011 City of Palms tournament in Florida. And the two No. 1 players in their respective classes put on quite the show, as Muhammad finished with a game-high 42 points and Randle put up 26, but his team got the W.

Duke picked up its first commitment for the class of 2013 on Monday night when DeSoto’s (TX) Matt Jones verbally pledged to join the Blue Devils through Twitter. Jones, a 6-4 two-guard, is known for his deadly shooting touch, especially from the perimeter. A top-25 recruit, Jones’ AAU teammate Julius Randle is rated as SLAM’s 2nd best junior in America. Will he also end up playing for coach Mike Krzyzewski? — they are recruiting him. Either way, Jones is a huge gain for Duke and a high profile prospect. From the Fayetteville Observer: “The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Jones, who is from DeSoto, Texas, was also considering North Carolina, Texas, Florida and Kansas, according to [Dave] Telep. “In his mind he knew what he wanted to do,” Telep said. “When that happens, the right thing to do is not waste anybody else’s time because the second-best thing after a yes is a no so the other schools can move on.”Duke, with only one senior on its current roster, has signed just one player – shooting guard Rasheed Sulaimon – from the Class of 2012. The Blue Devils are still pursuing small forward Shabazz Muhammad, ranked first overall in his class, and power forward Tony Parker.”

John Wall’s fame began when he was a junior in high school. Here are the five prep juniors most likely to follow his path to stardom:

Aaron Gordon, San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty
The younger brother of New Mexico forward Drew Gordon, Aaron has risen into one of the West Coast’s premiere blue-chippers. As a sophomore, Gordon led Archbishop Mitty to the California Division II state championship—the program’s first state title—while averaging 16.4 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.6 blocks. The San Jose native also helped capture the CCS Division II title and the Nor-Cal championship, following a 32-2 season that saw the Monarchs finish on a 20-game winning streak. This 6-7 forward has an effective mid-range game and an array of athletic moves.

Nerlens Noel, Tilton (NH) School
Nerlens is hands down (or up, as it were) the best high school shot blocker in the nation. This 6-10 pivot possesses great footwork, a quick bounce off the floor, active hands and long arms that allow him to contest anything in his vicinity. He’s also great at timing his jump. Noel has finished games with double-digit blocks on numerous occasions. He emerged as the main talk of the Nike Peach Jam in July after averaging over 12 points, 9 rebounds and 7 blocks during the tourney while leading his BABC squad to the championship.

Jabari Parker, Chicago (IL) Simeon(Pictured Right)
Probably the best-known name on this list right now, the 6-8 Parker led Derrick Rose’s alma mater to the Illinois Class 4A state title last season after averaging a team-high 15.3 points and 5.9 rebounds as a sophomore. This past summer, Parker refuted any remaining doubters as he turned heads with his impressive performance at various elite tournaments, including winning tournament MVP at the Nike Global Challenge and the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Mexico. The multi-faceted forward, whose father Sonny is a Windy City hoops legend, is known for his athleticism, explosiveness and ability to score in bunches.

Julius Randle, Plano (TX) Prestonwood
Randle is a very gifted athlete who can play just about any position on the floor. As well-rounded as you’ll find for someone his size, the 6-9 power forward has the agility and athleticism to play out on the perimeter and do damage. Randle, a Dallas native, handles the rock as well as anyone and is super explosive to the basket. Give him room, and he’ll sink it from distance. In addition, his pro-ready physique allows him to bully his way in the paint and be effective on the glass. This versatile junior averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds last season while leading Prestonwood to the TAPPS 5A title game.

Chris Walker, Bonifay (FL) Holmes County
When you look at the stat sheet at the end of the game, you realize there aren’t many players who can fill up just about every column as well as Walker does. This 6-10 forward averaged 26 points, 14 rebounds, 8 blocks, 5 assists and 3 steals per game last season for Holmes County as a sophomore. Walker can play with his back toward or against the basket and can handle the ball well enough to create plays for himself on the perimeter. Whether it’s pulling up for a jumper or finishing strong at the rim, his length and agility have produced a five-star recruit.

The NIKE Global Challenge tips off for the 5th year on Friday, August 5th at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, OR. This three-day event showcases the top talents from across the world, as they compete in an eight team, twelve game tournament.

This tournament is the last series of the NIKE Elite Youth Basketball events, which have also included positional skills academies hosted by NBA stars Deron Williams, Amar’e Stoudamire, Kevin Durant and LeBron James. The top 30 US players were selected from these camps to participate in this year’s NIKE Global Challenge.

The American teams will be divided regionally into 3 elite teams; they will face the top U19 International players from Brazil, Canada, Chinese-Taipei, Germany and Puerto Rico.

Past Global Challenge alumni have included this years number one draft pick Kyrie Irving (2010), Washington Wizards star John Wall (2010), and Canadian superstar Tristan Thompson (2009). This years talents will include:

The first 12 players selected to participate in the sixth annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 event, the nation’s premier summer showcase, have been announced.

Featuring 24 of the top high school basketball players from across the nation, Boost Mobile Elite 24 participants are selected by high school basketball experts from ESPN RISE and other talent evaluators. Players are selected based on their performance during AAU tournaments and national summer camps. The 2011 Boost Mobile Elite 24 will be held at the Venice Beach Courts in Los Angeles on Aug. 26-27.

The game airs live on ESPNU on Saturday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Shabazz Muhammad, an alumnus of the event and a first team ESPN RISE All-American as a junior, headlines the first 12 players selected for the Boost Mobile Elite 24. The Bishop Gorman (Henderson, Nev.) standout is ranked No. 3 in the 2012 class by ESPNU.

“It was a great experience for me last year,” Muhammad said. “It was fun and the weather was great — I really enjoyed myself.” Other event veterans include Perry Ellis of Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kan.), No. 19 in the ESPNU 100, and No. 5 ranked DaJuan Coleman of Jamesville-DeWitt (DeWitt, N.Y.), selected for the third consecutive year. First-time participants include Mitch McGary of Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.), No. 4 in the rankings, Kyle Anderson of defending POWERADE FAB 50 national champion St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), No. 10, and Anthony Bennett of Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), No. 46. Although he was injured at times last season, Bennett still earned second team ESPN RISE Underclass All-American honors. He had an outstanding spring and summer — earning raves for his play during the Nike E.Y.B.L., Pangos All-American Camp, and NBPA Camp.

Muhammad and Bennett are confirmed participants for the Under Armour Slam Dunk Contest. The dunk competition airs live on Friday at 6 p.m. EDT. ”I’m excited to be in the dunk contest, but I definitely know that I’ve got to come up with some creative stuff,” Bennett said. “I’ll have to get to work on some good stuff so I can win.

“It’s a big time honor to be picked for the Elite 24. I used to always hear Myck [Kabongo] talk about it last year just saying how much fun he had playing in that game. Now I’m getting a chance to be a part of it. It’s a great feeling.”

Added Muhammad: “I was one of the youngest guys out there. This year I’m going to showcase my skills, be competitive to win the game.”

The full roster, dunk contest participants and team names will be announced in early August.

Julius Randle goes went so hard at the Gym Rats Classic that this video could very well be titled, ‘Julius Randle Dominates Over-matched Kids in Indiana.’ If Randle continues to improve, this No. 1 player in the Class of 2013 could be a future top﻿-5 NBA draft pick.

In my third consecutive year going to Orlando, I pretty much knew what to expect: a lot of high-level hoops, big-time players trying to prove they’re the cream of the crop, sleepers trying to make a name for themselves, a ton of college coaches, my birthday (looking forward to doing that at home for once) and more meals at Wetzel’s Pretzels during the day and the Ale House at night than I’d care to admit. This year, however, I was unexpectedly joined by SLAM intern Jeremy Bauman, who made the trip on his own dime and showed an advanced knowledge of the grassroots scene for a youngster. (One other unexpected moment came when I saw New Orleans Hornets star David West, who I can’t say I was fond of personally when I lived in the N.O., so involved with his Garner Road–where he finished up high school in North Carolina–AAU team, which he sponsors and was with before and after games throughout the duration of the event. Color me wrong, DWest.)

Jeremy will handle coverage of AAU Nationals, but I’m here to update y’all on the goings-on at the AAU Super Showcase, where familiar names the CP3 All-Stars won the 15-and-under chip, Nike Baltimore Elite (Carmelo Anthony’s team) took the 16s title and Each One Teach One Elite (led by Austin Rivers, whose pop I spoke to earlier in the week) outlasted the Brad Beal-led St. Louis Eagles to win it all in a nationally-televised game Tuesday night.

That last result is significant because Beal and Rivers are two of the nation’s top-10 players, best sharpshooters and definitely the top shooting guards in the country. In addition, because Beal is a Florida commit. Rivers, an Orlando native pledged to the Gators earlier in his career, but later backed out. Some speculation has him eventually choosing Duke, whose coaching staff (minus Coach K, who had some other obligation of some sort) was watching him like a hawk. Anyway, while both of the teams were centered around their respective stars, they each had strong supporting casts, but in the end, Beal didn’t have his best outing, while Rivers stepped up to the plate with a huge game. With no further adieu, here’s my take on 15 of the players who impressed me (for the LAST time, not necessarily the best of the bunch) in Orlando, including the aforementioned pair:

—Brad Beal, 6-3 rising senior wing, Chaminade (MO): A Florida commit who has risen to among the top-10 consensus players in the country, this pure shooter had up-and-down outings, but his strength, solid athleticism, all-around game and team-first mentality makes up for the times his usually-wet long-range J isn’t falling.

—Henry Brooks, 6-8 rising senior combo forward, Milton (GA): Brooks, a stellar student, is a long, active and athletic slasher with the ability to finish around the basket, make an impact on the glass on both ends of the floor and step out to make jumpers.

—Domonique Bull, 6-3 rising junior combo guard, Cushing (MA): One of the next in line for traditional AAU power BABC, Bull’s aggressive driving approach is similar to his surname, as he powers through defenders to get to the rack and finish, but his solid mid-range game, tough D and slick handle shows he has some finesse, as well.

—Rodney Cooper, 6-6 rising senior wing, Russell County (AL): An Alabama commit, this smooth lefty is capable of knocking down deep jumpers, pulling up off the bounce, finishing way above the rim, flourishing in transition and locking down his man on the other end of the floor.

—Kadeem Jack, 6-8 postgraduate post, South Kent (CT): A product of Harlem’s famed Rice High School, Jack justified his recent hype by running the floor like a madman, blocking shots, finishing with authority, being an active presence on the boards, using his size and quickness to create mismatches and generally wreaking havoc whenever he was on the court.

—Roosevelt Jones, 6-3 rising senior wing, O’Fallon (IL): A sleeper nationally, Jones is one of the best players in Illinois and by using the spring and summer AAU circuit as his platform, the Butler commit has proven to be a steal, as his toughness, no-nonsense approach, unselfishness, uncanny post-up game and rebounding, ballhandling and passing ability, defensive versatility and understanding of his limitations (he knows he’s not a shooter) opened a lot of eyes.

—Trevor Lacey, 6-3 rising senior combo guard, Butler (AL): After being regarded as one of the nation’s most-highly regarded players in his class a few years back, Lacey’s stock took a slight dip, but in his reincarnation as an excellent second option (to Austin Rivers), his reliable deep J, toughness, ability to slide over to the point, underrated and rugged inside game (his strength allows him to rebound and finish amongst the tall trees) has him seen in a whole new light.

—Ben McLemore, 6-5 rising senior wing, Eskridge (MO): A St. Louis native who has risen to amongst the players in his class almost out of nowhere this spring and summer, the ultra-athletic slashing swingman backed up the hype by displaying a solid-mid-range game, a decent deep ball, efficient ballhandling ability, good rebounding for a perimeter player and some jaw-dropping athletic plays on both ends of the floor.

—Martavious Newby, 6-2 rising junior combo guard, Booker T. Washington (TN): A tough pure scorer with playmking ability, Newby proved he was capable of running the show and distributing the rock, but his forte was putting points on the board–whether from deep with his streaky J, pulling up off the dribble, in transition, powering through contact in the paint or using his tricky ballhandling to get past the opposition–in the fashion of past classic Memphis scorers.

—Julius Randle, 6-8 rising sophomore combo forward, Prestonwood Christian (TX): Regarded by many as the top player in his class nationally, Randle is still just a youngster, but his advanced frame, inside-outside scoring game, nice athleticism, touch out to beyond the arc, ability to dominate the boards and solid ballhandling ability will make him a prospect you’ll hear a lot more from in coming years.

—Austin Rivers, 6-3 rising senior combo guard, Winter Park (FL): Rivers’ scoring ability–he has almost unlimited range, the ability to get past multiple defenders with his terrific handle and has excellent court vision, to boot–has been written about ad nauseum on this site and plenty of other places, but with added strength, a better understanding of how to involve his teammates and at least a partial commitment to playing D, he’s in the process of taking his game to another level.

—James Robinson, 6-2 rising junior combo guard, DeMatha (MD): A productive player for his famed high school program since his freshman year (no small feat), Robinson isn’t flashy, but his ability to play on and off the ball, strong frame, improved outside shooting, rugged approach, lockdown D, consistent standout play and overall toughness have really raised his stock this summer.

—Kedorian Sullivan, 6-6 rising senior wing, Southwind (TN): A long and athletic wing, Sullivan might not be a big name nationally, but his high motor, slashing ability, finishing skills, activity on the boards, tough D and ability to excel in transition might change his low-key status as a recruit in the near future.

—Craig Sword, 6-2 rising junior combo guard, Carver (AL): With his surname, it’s fitting this kid would be a slasher, but his advanced mid-range game, transition scoring ability, aggressiveness going to the hole, underrated playmaking skills and decent range shows he can be a multi-faceted talent.

—Fred Thomas, 6-5 rising junior wing, Jim Hill (MS): A sleeper even in his hometown, Thomas’ deep range, prolific scoring ability (I witnessed a five-minute stretch where he was simply unconscious), length, solid athleticism and nice handle for his size could put him on the national radar over his next couple years of high school ball.